Chapter 1031 – Dozedar's Nightmare [Part 1]
"Halt! State your names, and the reason why you are here in the territory of the Greenskin Clan!" a Demon with green skin shouted as he walked towards the two hooded figures who were currently buying some fruits and other food supplies from the food stalls in the plaza.
One of the hooded figures, who was wearing a fox mask, turned around to look at the Demon who was looking at them in a suspicious manner.
"My name is Shane, and this is my companion Zelan," Shannon said. "We just came here to buy some supplies for our journey. Is there something wrong, mister?"
Hearing the smooth, and silky voice that was coming from the hooded figure, the Demon from the Greenskin Clan glanced at his men, and gave them a brief nod.
Immediately, over a dozen members of the Greenskin Clan surrounded the two hooded figures, in a tight encirclement.
"The city is currently being monitored for potential spies that have come from our rival Clans," the Demon, who seemed to be the Captain of this patrol group, replied. "Both of you are to come with us, so that we can inspect your belongings and make sure that you are not spies sent by our enemies."
The Captain had very keen senses and after hearing that the voice belonged to a young lady, he immediately thought of a sinister plan to capture them, before the other groups found them.
After William had left their territory, their Patriarch, Dozedar, issued an order that all foreigners must be interrogated at all cost when they are found inside their Domain. Since very few individuals visited their city on a regular basis, the two robed figures stood out.
At first, the Demons only wanted to steal their belongings, but after hearing that the voice belonged to a young lady, their goals changed. The Demon Captain immediately planned to capture both of them, so that they could enjoy a good time.
Just as the Demons were about to capture the two robed figures, three little familiars appeared and stood in front of the two girls.
"Kekeke, I'll protect them," Conan said. "The two of you can teach these idiots a lesson."
Elliot flipped his hair as he raised his chin arrogantly. "My goodness. Can't people shop quietly nowadays? Why must there always be morons who think with their lower heads, instead of their main one?"
The sound of knuckles being cracked reached the ears of the Demons who were just a few meters away from Shannon and Princess Aila. Chloee grinned evilly at the green-skinned demons who were unlucky enough to meet her.
"It's been a while since I punched someone," Chloee stated. "I'll make this count."
The Demon Captain took out his sword and gave his order.
"Take care of these annoying flies, but don't hurt the goods!" the Captain shouted. "We will enjoy them later."
""Yes!""
The Demons charged with faces filled with high expectations. It had been a while since they had played with a young lass, and they wouldn't waste this opportunity to fully enjoy the offerings that were in front of them.
Half a minute later, the sound of pained screams and cries for help reverberated in the plaza. Chloee smashed the Demon's faces, and sent them flying in every direction.
Elliot, on the other hand, electrocuted those who tried to come close to their group. The smell of charred flesh permeated the plaza as the little angel shot lightning bolt after lightning bolt from his small fingers, toasting those who dared to come in their direction.
After a minute had passed, all the Demons had been dealt with. Elliot and Chloee had held back, so none of them had died. However, the injuries they received from the two familiars was enough to cripple them for half a year without proper treatment.
The Captain of the Demon Patrol stared at this scene in horror as he tried to run away to escape the two little monsters that he had unknowingly antagonized.
"Too late, punk." Elliot sneered as he aimed his finger at the running demon. A few seconds later, a lightning bolt that was bigger from the previous ones that he had shot earlier shot out of his fingertips and sailed across the street in a heartbeat.
The Demon Captain cried out in pain before falling face first on the ground, losing consciousness.
Princess Aila, who had ignored the entire scene from start to finish, was busy counting the coins in her magic bag.
"Here you go, thirty-two gold coins for everything in your stall," Princess Aila said as she handed the coins towards the owner, who accepted it with shaking hands.
"T-Thank you, My Lady for your generosity," the stall owner replied. In truth, he just wanted to get the trade over with in fear that the little familiars would beat him up, if he refused to sell his goods to the robed lady in front of him.
"Glad to do business with you," Princess Aila nodded as she stored the food supplies inside her storage ring. "Shane, should we just buy everything we see? That way we don't have to make a lot of stops along the way."
"That's a good idea," Shannon replied. "Let's just buy everything."
The stall owners shuddered when they saw the robed figures split up, so that they could buy things faster.
Conan and Elliot went with Princess Aila, while Chloee accompanied Shannon. The two young ladies busied themselves with stocking up on food supplies and clothes that would help them blend in with the inhabitants of the Demon Realm.
While this was happening, word of their deeds arrived at the main residence of the Greenskin Clan, which made Dozedar red with anger.
"Who dares to hurt my people in my own turf?!" Dozedar shouted as he slammed his left fist on the armrest of his chair.
His mood had been very bad ever since his right arm had been bitten off by the Gorgon Willam had unleashed on him. Because of this, he had long wanted to get his revenge, but he also understood that his target could easily crush him like a bug.
Because of this, he vented his frustrations on the foreigners that visited his city, and made things difficult for them. Now that there was someone who decided to openly defy him, Dozedar felt that this was a good opportunity to vent out his frustrations once and for all.
"So, the suspects are two women and three strange creatures?" Dozedar asked his aid who hurriedly reported the incident that had just happened in the plaza.
"Yes, My Lord!" The aid bowed his head. "They are still buying things in the plaza. If you hurry now, we can still catch them."
Dozedar nodded and issued a command to close off the entire city. Although he was certain that he could easily capture the two troublemakers, he decided to close off the exits just in case they decided to leave before he could get to their location.
"Do they really think that the Greenskin Clan is just a Minor Clan that they can anger as they please?" Dozedar sneered. "I'll make those two women understand that they are messing with the wrong Clan!"
The Patriarch of the Greenskin Clan stormed out of his residence, while being followed by a hundred elite guards. He wanted to send a strong message to everyone that no one could look down upon them, because they had finally succeeded in being recognized as a medium-sized Clan by the Gremory Clan.
With the help of their backing, Dozedar was sure that it wouldn't be long till he annexed his neighbors, and made his Clan a full-fledged Major Clan that had several vassals under his command.
For now, he would deal with the two troublemakers that had come to his domain with suspicious motives. After that, he would coordinate with the Gremory Clan to take his revenge on the black-haired teenager, whose devilish smile always appeared in his dreams.
Chapter 1032 – Dozedar's Nightmare [Part 2]
Dozedar had been traumatized by his encounter with William, and everytime he slept, he would see the young teenager's disdainful smile in his dreams. He knew that there was only one way to overcome his fear and that was to get even with William, no matter what.
To his surprise, the patriarch of the Gremory Clan, Alvah, told him in great detail that William planned to start a rebellion in the Demon Realm. Because of this, the Alvah had issued a command that the black-haired teenager would become their enemy, and ordered his vassals to ambush William on his journey.
This was the good news that Dozedar was waiting for, so he immediately pledged the participation of the Greenskin Clan, and vowed to help in the subjugation of his mortal enemy.
While these thoughts played inside Dozedar's head, he and his men finally arrived at the plaza. Most of the stalls had closed because the two ladies had bought everything they had in stock, which made the stall owners very happy.
However, after seeing the Patriarch of the Greenskin Clan, as well as his entourage, they all bowed their heads and anxiously prayed that none of them would be involved in this tricky incident.
"Where are they?" one of Dozedar's men approached one of the stall owners and asked. "Don't even think about lying. If you do, you will be punished for treason!"
"T-They are in the Pay to Win store," the stall owner replied. "It seems that they are going to buy several sets of clothes, as well as consumable items for their journey. They just entered the store five minutes ago, and I'm sure that all of them are still inside."
Dozedar's man snorted as he tossed a gold coin in the man's direction before turning back to his lord.
"Let's go," Dozedar ordered. "I want to see these two b*tches who think they can hurt my people in my Domain."
—–
"Look at this Zelan," Shannon said as she showed Princess Aila a cute two piece dress that she thought would look good on her newfound friend. "I'm sure that this will look great on you."
Princess Aila looked at the flowery dress that Shannon had presented to her. She had to agree that it was indeed quite cute, and even imagined how William would react after seeing it.
"You have good eyes, dear customer!" one of the shop assistants commented with a smile. "These clothes were made by one of the Clans in the West. they are known for producing high-quality clothes, and our boss needed to travel great distances in order to procure some of them.,"
"This is indeed a good choice," Conan, who was seated on Princes Aila's shoulder, nodded his head in approval. "Let's buy it, Aila."
"Very well," Princess Aila said as she held the clothes in her hands. "Thank you, Shane."
Shannon smiled sweetly. "You're welcome."
This was her first time shopping with a person who was the same age as her. She had long treated Princess Aila as her friend, and the two hit it off right away after they escaped Hestia Academy. Unfortunately, they weren't able to stock up on a lot of food for their journey, so they decided to stop by the nearest city that they could find to buy some supplies.
Both of them thought that it would be a simple process, but the incident in the plaza made them realize that the Demons were very similar to Humans as well.
There were good Demons, as well as rotten ones. Originally, they thought that every Demon was bad and had their guard up the whole time, but after buying a few things in the plaza before the incident happened, they had a better grasp of the Demon's society, which was almost the same as Human society.
Just as the two were about to purchase more clothes, several Demons stormed inside the shop and looked in their direction.
"Is that them?" Dozedar asked one of his aides.
"Yes, My Lord," the aid replied. "That lady wearing a fox mask, as well as those three little things beside them are the ones that were seen in the plaza. The hooded figure next to them is part of their group as well."
"Good." Dozedar nodded as he walked towards the two young ladies, while releasing his blood lust.
Shannon frowned inside her mask, as she stared at the bulky Demon that was almost two-meters-tall, who was walking in their direction. A single glance was enough to tell the fox-eared lady that he was trouble, so she took a step forward and stood in front of Princess Aila, in order to protect her from any sudden forms of aggression on the Demon's part.
"Are you the ones responsible for hurting my Clan members in the plaza?" Dozedar asked.
"They were the ones who started to harass us," Shannon replied. "We were merely protecting ourselves."
The staff member who was assisting the two ladies with their purchase, hurriedly took several steps back as she distanced herself away from her two patrons. Although she wanted to help them, she was no match against the Patriarch of the Greenskin Clan who was known to be brutal to his enemies.
"I don't care who harassed who first." Dozedar grunted. "All I care about is that you hurt my people, inside my own city."
Elliot and Chloee had already flown in front of Shannon as they prepared to attack. However, Princess Aila's voice stopped them in their tracks.
"Let's talk about this calmly," Princess Aila said. "Everything can be solved if we just talk things out. We are willing to compensate for the damages we caused, as well as pay for the healing expenses for the men we injured."
Dozedar, glanced at the robed figure who had spoken and his sharp senses made him frown.
"Take off that hood," Dozedar ordered. "I am the Patriarch of the Greenskin Clan and talking to me without revealing your identity is disrespectful."
Princess Aila pondered for a bit before lifting her hood, just enough to show her angelic face to the Demon in front of her. She didn't take it off completely because she didn't have any horns, or any other distinct feature that would mark her as a Demon.
Dozedar took a whiff of her fragrance from where he stood, which made his eyes widen.
"You're a Human?" Dozedar's expression changed as he looked at the angelic beauty in front of him with an intimidating smile. "It's been a while since I have seen a Human without a slave collar on their necks, or bound by chains. Looks like I got lucky today. You're one high-quality beauty, I'll give you that, young lady."
Shannon adjusted where she stood to make sure she still stood between Princess Aila and Dozedar before glaring at the Demon.
"You better not touch a single strand of her hair or else you'll be sorry." Shannon declared.
Dozedar snorted as he looked down at the lady in front of him who was wearing a fox mask.
"Sorry? This word is not in my vocabulary," Dozedar replied. "It would be in the best interest of both of you to just surrender yourself peacefully. That way, neither of you will get hurt. It will be a great loss for me if your delicate bodies are injured. How can I have fun if the dolls that I plan to play with are broken?"
Shannon sighed as she raised up her right hand to hold the side of her mask.
"I'm sorry Aila, it seems that talking in a civil manner doesn't work on these brutes," Shannon said. "I'll deal with them myself. Just close your eyes, okay?"
Princess Aila took a step back and turned around. Shannon had told Alia about her ability, and cautioned her to never look at her directly if she wasn't wearing her fox mask.
Elliot and Chloee also backed away, leaving Shannon to face Dozedar as well as his hundred elite warriors, who always accompanied him wherever he went.
"Just what kind of nonsense are you planning here, missy?" Dozedar asked with a lecherous grin. "Stop resisting and I promise that I will send both of you girls to heaven."
Shannon slowly moved her mask to the side, showing half of her beautiful face.
"What a coincidence," Shannon replied as the corner of her lips curled up into a smile. "I also planned to send you and your men somewhere, but I'm sorry to say that you won't be going to heaven."
Dozedar's body stiffened when he saw Shannon's face. It was not only him, but all the men that the patriarch of the Greenskin Clan had brought with him.
Dozedar gritted his teeth as he slowly raised his hand. Without any warning, he started to claw at his throat, as if he was trying to tear all of the flesh off his neck.
The shopkeeper and his staff watched in horror as the Patriarch of the Greenskin Clan mutilated himself without any rhyme or reason. Suddenly, the Demons that had accompanied Dozedar did the same thing and clawed their own throats, tearing their flesh in the process.
Two minutes later, Dozedar collapsed on the floor with his eyes staring straight at the fox-eared lady who was looking down on him.
"Be sure to become a better person in your next life," Shannon said as she slipped her mask fully over her face once again.
Those were the last words that Dozedar, and his men heard before they took their last breath. All of them died with their eyes open, while looking at Shannon with horrified expressions on their faces.
Several hours later, news of Dozedar's death spread within the Greenskin Clan. Shannon and Princess Aila visited their Clan's Main residence and told Dozedar's Clan members that the two of them were part of Raymond Parker's entourage.
They even gave the Greenskin Clan an ultimatum that if they opposed Lord Raymond then the two of them would return and finish off their entire clan without mercy.
As someone who observed William on a regular basis, Shannon was quite aware of his current situation. She knew that the Gremory Clan and the Half-Elf were at odds with each other, so she decided to lend him a hand in eliminating a possible threat to his life.
Because of this, the elders of the Greenskin Clan broke off all ties they had made with the Gremory Clan, which made Alvah smash his fist on top of his table after hearing the news. He never expected William to have some reinforcements that he didn't know of, and immediately sent his men to investigate what had truly transpired within the city of the Greenskin Clan.
Unfortunately, the men he had sent to investigate also died at Shannon's hands, leaving Alvah unaware of what was happening in places where his eyes, and influence, could no longer reach.
Chapter 1033 – Did You Really Miss Me?
Ten days had passed since William had left the desert in order to continue his travel towards the North. Along the way, he subjugated two Major Clans, who were also cohorts of the Gremory Clan in the Southeastern Regions of the Demon Realm.
Kira's grandfather, Zeph, had provided him with a list of Clans, and individuals who were under Alvah's control along the route that they were taking. In order to prevent news from spreading, William decided to use a low-key method to start his conquest.
The Half-Elf's subjugation plan was very simple. All he needed to do was ask Optimus to tell him where the Patriarch of the Major Clan was located. After that, he would toss the said Patriarch to his Thousand Beast Domain, where Princess Sidonie was waiting to charm him.
After the Patriarch had been charmed, he would immediately call for a family conference in order to gather all of the important members of his family.
Once everyone was gathered, Princess Sidonie would make her appearance and charm everyone, making all of them William's pawns.
These people had now become the Half-Elf's double agents, which he used to gather information about the movements of the Gremory Clan. This in turn gave William a better understanding of the scope of Alvah's plans, which made him realize how domineering the Demon Lord's family was.
'I should have done this sooner,' William thought as he gazed out the window of his flying carriage. 'This way, Alvah wouldn't know what hit him until it was too late.'
The scary part about Princess Sidonie's Charm Spell was that her subordinates would act normally as if nothing had happened. Even if someone with strong mental powers were to scan their minds to check if they were under a mind-affecting spell, they would find nothing.
This made Princess Sidonie's method the optimal choice when it came to slowly turning Alvah's allies into William's pawns.
A few hours later, William's entourage landed beside a river in a valley to take a break. Unlike Vesta who had holed herself up inside the Thousand Beast Domain, Kira, Athrun, as well as their retainers remained in the outside world.
Since the journey was exhausting, they would take breaks from time to time in order to rest their mounts as well as to stretch their bodies.
Ali, and Ari, Vesta's two shield maidens busied themselves with fishing in the river in order to serve as lunch for their Young Lady. Much to William's surprise, Vesta would always dine with her two maidservants, which made the Half-Elf realize that the green-haired beauty treated the two girls kindly.
Charmaine felt competitive as well and hunted fish for William to eat. Half an hour later, the three girls were catching one fish after the other, while Kira and Athrun, observed from the side.
"How many have you caught, Kira?" Athrun asked as he sat with a fishing pole in his hand.
"Just one," Kira sighed. "Those girls are scaring all the fish away."
Athrun chuckled as he looked at his still empty bowl. Unlike Kira who managed to catch one, the scholarly demon hadn't caught anything.
William, on the other hand, was busy reading the book in his hands. This was one of the novels that he had brought back from Earth. The only reason why this particular novel caught his eye was because the Main Character was also a Half-Elf with red hair, and green eyes just like him.
Just as he was about to turn to the next page, his sharp senses heard the sound of several disgruntled birds who seemed to have been disturbed from their peaceful rest on the outskirts of the valley.
Suddenly, a notification appeared on William's status page which made him pause whatever he was doing.
"No way…," William muttered as he flew towards the sky. 'Optimus, are you sure that you didn't make a mistake?'
< Well, you will see soon enough if I made a mistake or not. >
Optimus' reply had a teasing tone to it, which made the Half-Elf's heart beat wildly inside his chest.
Soon, a black dot appeared on the horizon, and headed straight for his location. Although it was still far away, William's eyesight was very good, so he was able to identify who it was from the get go.
"Well, you look quite perky, Will," Oliver said as he circled the Half-Elf twice before landing on his shoulder. "It seems that life has been good to you as of late."
"Second Master, I missed you," William said as he rubbed Oliver's chin.
"Hmp! Did you really miss me?" Oliver asked. "Or are you missing someone else?"
"Of course, I missed you, Second Master," William replied. "How can I possibly not?"
Oliver chuckled as he gazed in the distance. "I guess I'll just have to tell My Lady that you didn't miss her."
"What are you talking about, Second Master? Of course I missed Master as well."
"What did you miss about her?"
"Everything!" William replied in a heartbeat. "From the top of her head up to the tip of her toes. I missed everything about her."
Oliver nodded his head in satisfaction. "Good answer. My Lady also missed you."
William's eyes held a hint of happiness inside them as he tried to pry answers from Oliver's lips, but the Parrot Monkey ignored his attempts.
"Listen to me, Will, there is something that I need to tell you," Oliver said with a serious expression on his face. "Actually, my Master didn't come alone. She brought her Master with her. Tell me, how much do you know about Baba Yaga?"
William blinked once then twice before giving Oliver an honest answer.
"I only know that she is the strongest Demigod of the Demon Continent," William replied. "She is also a master of the Dark Arts and prefers to stay in seclusion."
Oliver nodded because this was the common knowledge that people had of Baba Yaga. The Parrot Monkey wanted William to act properly when Baba Yaga arrived because she was the Mother that Celine never had.
Although the ugly old hag seemed like a carefree individual, she was a very vengeful Demigod. This was also why no one dared to offend her, unless they wanted to have their entire bloodline eradicated from the face of the world.
"Will, Baba Yaga is Celine's Master, and mother," Oliver explained. "You'd better be on your best behavior when talking to her. Master also respects her very much, and she would be angry at you if you acted discourteously in front of her second mother."
William nodded his head seriously after hearing Oliver's explanation. It was also at that moment when an idea popped inside his head.
"Second Master, since you said that Master considers Baba Yaga as her second mother, does that mean that I can ask her for Master's hand in marriage?"
"Marriage? Um… I guess you can. But, it will be difficult at this point in time."
William arched an eyebrow as he looked at Oliver with a questioning gaze. The Parrot Monkey sighed before giving the Half-Elf a vague answer.
"Just wait until she arrives," Oliver stated. "Don't have any high expectations. Celine has a lot on her plate right now, and marriage is the least of her concern."
William reluctantly nodded his head as he looked in the distance where Oliver was looking.
Somehow, he was feeling anxious about his unexpected reunion with the beautiful Elf that had taught him many things in life. He thought that he would have to travel for a few more weeks in order to see her, but Fate was a fickle lady and decided to let the two of them meet sooner.
As to what the outcome of their meeting would be, William could only hope that it would be on a positive note. After all, now that he had an opportunity to talk to Celine once again, he believed that he could talk about their relationship, and how both of them would proceed from this day onwards.
Chapter 1034 – Master, I Missed You
William watched the sun slowly set on the horizon with Oliver on his shoulder.
Originally, he had planned to travel to the Wicked Thorn Forest, located in the Northeast Region of the Demon Continent, to meet his Master, Celine. However, he didn't expect that Celine and her Master, Baba Yaga, would take the initiative to look for him on their own accord, which made the Half-Elf very happy.
When the sun was nearly out of sight, William's ears picked up a sound that was coming from the North, and was nearing his location.
Slowly, but surely, the silhouette of a wooden house, nestled on top of what seemed to be two giant bird-like legs, traversed the valley in a steady manner.
William could feel his emotions stirring up inside his chest, as he stood rooted on the spot, waiting for Baba Yaga's house to reach its destination.
"She's finally here…," William muttered softly as his eyes focused on the wooden house in the distance, hoping to see a glimpse of the beautiful Elf who had played an important role in his life.
Sha, Zhu, Kira, Athrun, as well as their retainers looked at the approaching behemoth with serious expressions on their faces. Although William had already warned them of Baba Yaga's arrival, they were still unable to hide the nervousness, as well as a bit of fear, from their faces.
Baba Yaga's reputation preceded her. She was well-known in the Demonic Continent, and many parents used her name to scare the children who misbehaved all the time.
They would mention things like "If you are a naugthy boy, Baba Yaga will come to get you and eat you!"
This alone was enough to make those mischievous children cry a river of tears in fear that the old hag from the North would really capture them and feast on their bodies.
A quarter of an hour later, the giant walking treehouse stopped a hundred meters away from William's encampment.
The door of the tree house opened, and a wrinkly old lady stepped outside to look at the people who had gathered around to meet them.
"You must be the infamous Raymond Parker who is wreaking havoc in the South of the Demon Realm," Baba Yaga chuckled like a witch after seeing the black-haired teenager, who was eyeing her with a curious gaze. "Well met, child."
William smiled and gave Baba Yaga a respectful bow. This was the bow that he gave to his Masters whenever he would meet them to show his gratitude for their teachings.
"Disciple William meets Grandmaster Baba Yaga," William replied courteously. "It is my greatest honor to meet you, Your Excellency."
"Oh my~ you get eight points," Baba Yaga smiled as she nodded her head in satisfaction. She then glanced behind her and beckoned her hand. "Celine, you chose your partner well. His manners are good"
"Master, he is not my partner," Celine said as she walked out of the door. "At least, not yet."
"Not yet?" Baba Yaga chuckled. "Well then, Will my boy, it seems that my Disciple doesn't recognize you as her significant other. At least, not yet."
William felt slightly hurt due to Celine's response, which he wasn't able to stop from appearing on his face. Although it only lasted for a brief moment, Baba Yaga, and Celine saw it, but they pretended that they saw nothing.
"Master, I missed you," William said.
"Well, I missed you a bit," Celine replied as she looked at William with a disapproving expression. "You're still the same as ever. Always causing trouble wherever you go. Can't you be more lowkey? The way things are going, it is not impossible for the Demon Lord to leave the capital city in order to hunt you down."
William raised his chin in arrogance before replying. "I'm not scared of him. If he comes, I'll whack him silly and have it recorded in a recording crystal to be kept as a family heirloom."
"Oh my~ he is very brave, and very stupid," Baba Yaga commented as she rubbed her wrinkled chin. "Child, don't think that the battle you experienced in the Southern Continent is a good standard to measure the might of the Demon Army.
"You were still not born when that great battle took place two decades ago, so you don't understand the sheer magnitude of the forces, and powers involved. Do not wish for something like that to happen, because battles of that level are enough to wipe the forces of the entire Southern Continent from the face of the world."
William didn't refute Baba Yaga's words because he had seen that great battle briefly when he gained the power of the Dungeon Conqueror.
"You are right, Grandmaster," William replied as he pressed both of his palms together and gave a respectful bow. "I also do not wish for that kind of war to happen. The one I experienced in the Southern Continent was enough to tell me that wars don't prove who is right or wrong, it only shows whose left."
Baba Yaga nodded and her impression of William went up by another notch.
'This boy is good. He knows when to advance, and knows when to retreat,' Baba Yaga thought. 'Or maybe, he is just buttering me up since I am his Grandmaster. Either way, he is quite eloquent in the usage of his words. Not bad.'
William shifted his attention to Celine, and his gaze became affectionate as he gazed at the woman who had made him a man.
"Master, can we have a serious discussion?" William said. "There are some things that I want to clarify. I hope that you can provide me with the answers that I am looking for."
Celine didn't reply right away to William's proposal. Instead, she stared at him for a full-minute before nodding her head.
"A serious discussion? Very well," Celine made a gesture for William to fly towards the treehouse. "Master, I will be in Eternity for a bit."
"Okay," Baba Yaga replied. "Take your time to have your serious discussion with him. After that, it will be my turn to ask him some questions."
Celine nodded. "Understood."
William, who had gained Celine, and Baba Yaga's permission to enter the wooden house, flew towards it with a smile on his face.
He had long wanted to have a talk with Celine about their relationship and although she was giving him the cold shoulder, he believed that everything could be solved if the two of them could sit down and have a heart-to-heart talk.
Chapter 1035: A Kiss Filled With A Silent Promise [R-18]
(Disclaimer: This chapter is Rated-18. You guys already know the drill).
Clothes littered the floor, as the sound of kisses spread inside the artifact, Eternity.
This was where Celine had trained William when he was still young, and still learning on how to effectively control the power of Dark Magic.
A sigh escaped Celine's lips as William buried his head in her chest. The Half-Elf lovingly kissed, and nibbled on her right breast, while his other hand, kneaded her left breast, and lightly played with its pink tip that had perked up, and started to become firm under his touch.
The beautiful Elf was currently straddling William, and his strong, and hard manhood was pressing at the entrance of her womb.
Celine didn't move, and simply allowed her Disciple, who had returned to his original form, to have his way with her.
After a while, William's right hand rested on the back of her head, and pulled her towards him. There, both of them shared a passionate kiss as their tongues intertwined with one another.
Only after a minute did Ceilne pull back, as she panted for breath. William stared at her beautiful eyes, and said the words that had wanted to tell her for a very long time.
"Master, I love you," William said. "I love you."
Celine wrapped her arms around William's head as she planted a kiss on his head. She didn't reply to the red-headed teenager's words of love, but still surrendered her body to his whims.
The beautiful Elf's silence made William's heart skip a beat. Just as Oliver had said, Celine seemed determined to not respond to him verbally, or make a promise that she couldn't keep.
"Master, even if you say nothing, I know that you also care for me," William said as he once again buried his face on her chest, kissing the crevice between her two breasts. "Still, your silence hurts me. Can you at least say something? A yes, or a no is enough."
Celine lightly patted Wiliam's head, as she guided his lips to her left breast, where her pink nipple was waiting for his affection.
William complied as he sucked, and lightly bit that firm tip, with the intention of marking it as his property. After giving it his love and affection, William raised his head and kissed Celine's neck, making her body shudder subconsciously.
"Go on," Celine whispered. "Drink my blood."
William lightly bit and sucked on Celine's neck, living a mark on it. However, he didn't extend his fangs to draw her blood.
Instead, William's hands supported Celine's buttocks, and raised her up a bit, until his mouth, and her breast touched each other.
Suddenly, Celine felt a prickling pain, as William bit her right breast, drawing blood. It didn't take long before a euphoric feeling washed over her body, making her body shudder for the second time.
After the tingling sensation became bearable Celine, held unto William's head as she voiced out her complaint.
"Why do you always suck my blood from that place?" Celine said in a voice that carried a trace of helplessness. "Have you developed some kind of fetish?"
William didn't reply and just continued to drink her blood happily. Although Celine's blood wasn't as delicious as Cathy's, it was still the blood of his first love in the world of Hestia.
It was the blood of the woman, whom he wanted to become his wife. Unfortunately, Celine refused to budge, and simply kept her silence, allowing him to indulge his wildest fantasies with her seductive body that had tasted no other man, but him.
After William had his fill, he kissed the wounds on Celine's breast, healing them in the process. Once it was fully healed, William lowered her body until his manhood slid inside her maidenhood.
Although she didn't say anything, Celine enjoyed the feeling of William's member opening her up inside, and pressing against the entrance of her womb. It was a very intimate feeling, and it allowed her to feel William's warmth, and love, as it was being conveyed by their union.
The two basked in that feeling of intimacy that no words could describe. This time, Celine took the initiative to cup William's face, and raised it up. She then kissed his lips, using her tongue to invade his mouth. The red-headed teenager had just drank her blood, so she was able to taste some of it.
Even so, she didn't stop because doing so would be lying to herself. Just as William had said earlier, even if she didn't say anything, he knew that she deeply cared for him. Her body had already been marked by him their first night together, as he shot his essence deep inside her womb, marking her as his woman.
But, even if that was the case, she still held back and didn't deny or affirm his words. She was one of the two candidates who would become the Bride of Darkness. A part of her wanted William to become the Prince, and the other didn't want him to be the one in the prophecy.
According to the Prophecy, the Prince would be born after much hardship and suffering. Celine would never want William to experience something like that, so she kept her lips shut tightly. She was afraid that if he said that she belonged to her, the thing she dreaded the most would become a reality.
Celine had resolved within herself that, if William wasn't the one in the prophecy, she would burn her life to kill the so-called Heir of Darkness in order to protect herself, and her sister, from becoming his so-called Bride.
Even then, Celine still didn't reject the possibility of William becoming the Prince in the Prophecy. If he really became the chosen one, then the beautiful Elf would stand by his side and offer her everything to him to soothe his heart that had been completely corrupted by darkness.
As these thoughts passed acrossed Celine's mind, William lightly pushed her back, and stared straight into her eyes.
"Master, since you won't answer then I have no other choice but to make sure that you conceive my child,," William said with a serious expression on his face. "That way, you will belong only to me. I don't care who the Prince will be. I will not allow him to steal you from me."
Celine stared into William's clear, and beautiful eyes, only to see her reflection on their surface. She understood that he wasn't bluffing, and he was really planning to make love to her until she was pregnant with his child.
"Do your best," Celine said as she wrapped her arms around William's neck and pressed her entire body against his lean and strong body. "I dare you to make me pregnant."
This was the first time that Celine allowed a trace of her desire to reach William's heart, making the Half-Elf smile as if a weight had been lifted off from his shoulders.
"As you wish, My Love," William said tenderly as he started to move his hips. He held the beautiful Elf firmly in his embrace.
The Half-Elf took his time and used soft, and strong thrusts, to make Celine sigh in pleasure. This in turn, fanned the burning passion, love, and lust in his heart, making their lovemaking reach greater heights.
A few minutes later, both their bodies shuddered at the same time, as Celine felt William's hot essence shoot into her womb. The feeling of ecstacy was so great, the beautiful Elf's vision momentarily turned white, due to how powerful her climax was.
William continued to press his still hard manhood against the entrance of her womb, preventing any of his seed from leaking out of it.
As the afterglow of their first lovemaking started to wane, both of them stared at each other passionately. They had done this several times before, but this time, their eyes revealed what they really felt for each other.
"Master, are you ready?" William asked as he stared into Celine's purple eyes that glowed faintly with power.
Celine didn't answer but she gave William a sweet smile before kissing his lips.
It was a kiss filled with a silent promise that only both of them could understand. Perhaps due to her acceptance of William's idea to have her give birth to his child, the kiss they shared tasted very sweet.
An hour in the outside world was a day inside the artifact Eternity. The Half-Elf was willing to spend many days inside of it in order to make sure that the beautiful Elf conceived his child.
Celine had also given him her silent approval, and allowed him to do as he pleased. Deep inside, she still wanted to fight against Fate. If having William's child would allow her to escape it then she would gladly accept it.
William no longer said anything and carried Celine to the bed. He wouldn't mind missing an entire day in the outside world, as long as he could spend twenty-four days with Celine inside Eternity.
Soon, only sweet sighs, and grunts of pleasure, permeated in a world where two people's hearts only beat for each other.
Free from the troubles of the outside world, and the attraction of the Holy Land of Darkness, William held Celine in a loving embrace. For a brief period of time, he no longer worried about the Demon Lord, or the schemes of the Gremory Clan.
All he cared about was the time that he spent with one of the beautiful Brides of Darkness, whose heart and body were slowly being conquered by him.
Chapter 1036: A Relationship Of Benefits And Gains
(Disclaimer: This chapter contains Rated-18 scenes. You already know the drill).
Celine knelt in the bathtub as she used her seductive lips and tongue to service William to the best of her ability.
Although she was older than him by a few years, her appearance was similar to a young woman in her early twenties. Celine's body was fully developed, which would make any man, and some women, look at her with infatuated gazes.
Her bodily curves could be considered perfect, and many would fight for the opportunity to make her their lover.
Unfortunately for them, this beautiful and mesmerizing Elf was currently using her hands, lips, and tongue, to clean the manhood that had brought her to the peak of ecstasy for the past few days.
William could be considered peerless in the arts of lovemaking because his stamina, and skills in bed was second to none. Even so, after making love to Celine everyday, his desire for her never waned.
Naturally, they took plenty of breaks in between. They dined, and talked to each other, sharing stories of the things that they had encountered while they were apart.
Celine was captivated by William's tale, especially the events that had happened in the Seventh Sanctum, the Deadlands, as well as his time on Earth. The Half-Elf didn't hide anything from her, including the memories of his past lives.
The beautiful Elf was able to control her emotions really well. She had been holding herself back, so that she wouldn't fall for William completely, in fear that what would happen in the future would break both of their hearts.
Their constant lovemaking as well as William's honest words of love were slowly, but surely, loosening the knots that she had placed in her heart. There was even a time during their lovemaking when she almost said she loved him too, in reply to the words of love that the Half-Elf had whispered in her ears.
Fortunately, she had caught herself in time, and masked the incoherent words that escaped her lips as a sigh, not of pleasure, but of relief.
The two of them had just finished making love to each other, and went to take a bath to clean each other up. However, Celine told William that she intended to lick him clean, as a thank you for making her feel loved.
Celine had teased William's manhood with her seductive lips, tongue and hands for half an hour, always stopping just as he was about to reach his climax. This torture was Celine's payback for almost blurting out the words that she had long suppressed inside her heart.
William's face filled with helplessness, each time he was denied release, stroked her sadistic tendencies.
'You think you can conquer me that easily?' Celine thought as she planted a kiss on the throbbing gland in her hand. 'This is payback for what you did earlier.'
It was at that moment when Celine felt William's hand rest on the top of her head. She looked up at him with a questioning gaze as she released his manhood from her sensuous lips, causing an audible popping sound.
"Master, please," William said with a flushed expression. "Give me release."
"Fine," Celine relented. She knew that William was already at his limit, so she decided to end his sensuous torture, so that they could finally clean themselves up and have lunch.
Within a minute, a grunt escaped William's lips as Celine held his member firmly inside her mouth. Soon, William came, and the beautiful Elf took it all in, not letting a single drop spill from her mouth.
Celine made sure to use her hands to properly squeeze William until the last of his essence had been taken in by her. Although she didn't want to admit it, she had grown very fond of William's strong, and manly member, that filled her up to the brim, with the intention of making her conceive.
A few minutes later, Celine washed William's body, scrubbing every nook and cranny. William did the same, and both of them went to the dining room to have their lunch.
While the two immersed themselves inside Eternity, certain things were happening in the Demon Continent.
The Patriarch of the Gremory Clan, Alvah, was listening to the reports of the spies and agents whom he planted in the Southeast Regions, but none of them had seen any trace of the black-haired teenager who went by the name Raymond Parker.
This was something that perplexed Alvah because he thought that William would bulldoze his way towards every Major Clan he passed through, and force them to submit to his will, but it never happened.
Everything was so peaceful that it was making Alvah feel paranoid. For him, he would rather have William take bold actions that would allow the Patriarch of the Gremory Clan to know his whereabouts and where he might strike next.
That way, he could plan properly and set up an ambush in the future, which would deal a devastating blow to the newcomer, who dared to challenge the might of his Clan.
"Are you sure that you haven't seen him?" Alvah asked the Patriarch of the Senka Clan, which he assumed would be one of the first Major Clans that William would visit after leaving the Fortaare Desert. "He should have entered your territory by now."
"No. We haven't seen him yet," the patriarch of the Senka Clan replied. "I even placed my scouts along our borders to ensure that we would be warned as soon as he and his entourage appeared, but none of my scouts have seen hints of their shadows. Maybe he changed his mind?"
Alvah shook his head. "Impossible. He's an arrogant person. I'm sure that he will take this opportunity to make his name known to the world."
"Still, the fact remains that he's not here. Maybe he changed his route?"
"It is a possibility. However, continue to stay on your guard."
The patriarch of the Senka Clan nodded. "Understood."
Alvah cut the connection and immediately looked at the map of the Demon Continent in front of him.
He narrowed his eyes and he scanned the map for possible routes that the black-haired teenager might have taken after leaving the desert.
"Did I calculate incorrectly?" Alvah thought as he eyed the map. "Could he have gone to the West? But he has been traveling towards the North all this time…"
As the old man made his speculations, he heard a knock on the door which made him stop his pondering for the time being.
"Enter!" Alvah commanded.
The door opened, and one of his trusted subordinates entered the room. The subordinate walked towards Alvah and only stopped two-meters away from him before kneeling on the floor.
"My Liege, the Demon Lord has sent a message to you," the subordinate reported.
"Where is it?" Alvah asked.
Alvah's trusted subordinate took out a communication crystal from his pocket and presented it to him. In truth, Alvah and Luciel didn't have a close relationship. Both of them were just using the other for benefits, but they were fine with this arrangement.
In truth, Alvah had used Luciel's influence many times in the past to allow the Gremory Clan to reach unprecedented heights under his management. This in turn strengthened the Demon Lord's faction, so Luciel turned a blind eye to Alvah's machinations.
Both of them understood that they needed each other, so they tolerated each other to a certain extent.
Alvah channeled his magic power to the communication crystal, and Luciel's image appeared in front of him. This was only a recorded message, so the only thing he could do was listen to the Demon Lord's reply to his concern about the black-haired teeanger, who was causing a ruckus in the Southern Regions of the continent.
"I have already sent people to investigate his identity and whereabouts," Luciel's cold and domineering voice spread inside Alvah's office. "Once I get a better grasp of his intention, I will send one of my generals to assist you in dealing with him.
"This is a crucial time, and I can't leave the Capital. I will leave the matters concerning this newcomer to you. I don't care how you deal with him, but make sure not to ruin the bigger picture. The clans who support me are becoming fewer in number, and it is mostly due to your greed.
"It will be best if you control your expansion for the time being. I don't want the Major Clans to turn their back to me, especially since I have received credible information that someone is plotting to overthrow me. If you don't have any other important matters to tell me, it is best that you just communicate directly to my general. I don't like getting letters signed by you."
Alvah controlled his urge to spit on his carpeted floor because he also didn't want to interact with Luciel as much as possible. Their relationship was purely about benefits and gains, so they didn't feel the need to flatter each other.
'Fine, I'll handle this on my own,' Alvah grumbled as he once again stared at the map of the Demon Continent in front of him.
Just like Luciel had said, he couldn't risk the bigger picture. This was something that both of them had wanted these past two decades. Even if they hated each other, he would still send every able-bodied member of the Gremory Clan to rally under Luciel's banner.
That was the only way for their clan to regain their honor and dignity, which had been torn apart by the Dungeon Conqueror, who had blocked their way to victory.
Chapter 1037: Bold Words. But, Can You Really Do It?
A day passed after William had gone inside Baba Yaga's house to have a serious talk with Celine.
Just as Baba Yaga started to chat with Zhu, Sha, Kira, and Athrun, beside the campfire, the door of the wooden house opened, revealing a smug-faced Half-Elf.
Even in the darkness, they were able to see that William's skin was glossy. It was as if he had just had a Swedish Massage, and the presence he radiated was filled with confidence.
A minute later, a beautiful Elf with long purple hair, wearing gold-rimmed glasses appeared behind him. Kira and Athrun weren't able to keep their eyes off of her because of how stunning she looked.
Baba Yaga chuckled like a witch when she saw the two of them. She then gave Celine the "did you manage to squeeze him dry?" gaze, which made the latter avert her gaze in embarrassment.
William smiled because he noticed this subtle exchange between Baba Yaga and Celine. In order to help his woman deal with her embarrassment, the Half-Elf cupped her cheeks and kissed her in front of everyone.
Kira and Athrun who saw this gave William the middle finger in their hearts, while Zhu, Sha, and Baba Yaga only chuckled and gave the Half-Elf a thumbs up for his boldness.
When the kiss ended, Celine pinched William's waist, and whispered that he shouldn't act lovey-dovey with her in public.
The Half-Elf was feeling good at the moment, so he endured Celine's pinching. When the beautiful Elf noticed that her attack wasn't working, she sighed internally and removed her hand from his waist.
She then floated in the air, and flew towards her Master, who seemed to have formed a good relationship with William's travel companions.
William smiled as he looked at his proud Master in the distance. The two of them had spent twenty four days inside Eternity, which was equivalent to twenty four hours. During that time, both of them had talked about many things, and yet, Celine would always change the topic, or just go silent, whenever he asked her to marry him.
The Half-Elf understood that his Master liked him also, but something was preventing her from nodding her head, and saying yes to his proposal. Of course, William knew the reason, and because of it, he no longer insisted on the matter.
He only did what he could do and that was to let her know how much he loved her. There were times when Celine would reciprocate his feelings with simple gestures, like a kiss, a hug, or taking the initiative to invite him to drink her blood.
No words were spoken about her feelings for him, but her gestures were enough to tell him what he needed to know. Now that they were together, they would face this prophecy head on. If that was the only way to free her from her fate then William would be more than willing to fight an uphill battle for her.
'It seems that I am always fighting against Fate regardless of what lifetime I am living,' William thought as he jumped off the wooden house, and flew towards the campfire to join the others. 'I lost in my two previous lifetimes, but the third time's the charm. This time, I will not lose. I will definitely win.'
William was only a few meters away from the campfire when his surroundings were suddenly covered in darkness.
He scanned his surroundings, but he couldn't see anything in front of him. There was no campfire, no stars in the sky, and no companions waiting for him. It was only him and the absolute darkness, which seemed to have trapped him completely.
Suddenly, he saw two golden balls of light in the distance. Slowly but surely, they moved towards him.
"Looks like you had a lot of fun with my Disciple, boy," Baba Yaga's witchy voice reached William's ears. "But, are you planning to take responsibility for her?"
The two golden balls stopped a meter away from William and turned into a pair of eyes before the wrinkled face of the strongest Demigod in the Demon Continent appeared in his vision.
"Master is my woman," William replied. "I will take full responsibility and ensure that I make her happy."
"Bold words, but can you really do it?"
"I will."
Baba Yaga's witchy chuckle reached William's ears as she stared down at him.
"I will, doesn't mean that you can back it up," Baba Yaga. "Words are merely words, after all. When the sky truly falls, and this world is shrouded in darkness, the words 'I will', may not be enough to ensure her safety."
William faced Baba Yaga's stare head-on. "I will do everything in my power to keep her away from harm. I have the ability to do that."
"Do you?" A contemptuous chuckle escaped Baba Yaga's lips. "Believe me boy, fighting against a Demigod will be the least of your worries. You will be fighting against a prophecy that is already set in stone. Even with all of your trump cards combined, I'm afraid that it won't be enough, once the Heir of Darkness is born."
William frowned because he didn't believe Baba Yaga's words. He had already fought against Demigods, Pseudo-Gods and, to a certain extent, against a God. With the experience, and the powers he had gained along the way, he was sure that he would be able to overcome whatever the future could throw at him using the powers he possessed.
"I can see that you do not believe my words," Baba Yaga said softly. "That's fine. I will not force you to believe me. However, if and when that time comes, you will understand that even with everything you have, there are some things that you can't overcome with just feelings alone."
William shook his head. "I fully understand that feeling of helplessness that comes even if you've given it everything you've got. I know that feeling of despair when you watch everything you love die in front of you, and the world you were trying to protect is engulfed in a fiery blaze.
"I know of promises that were broken due to unforeseen circumstances, and the tears that followed behind them. This is why, I understand, more than anyone else, what it is like to fight against Fate.
"But, what of it? Even if this prophecy is already set in stone, what of it? As long as I draw breath, I will protect the people that are important to me even if…"
"Even if you sacrifice things that are very important to you?" Baba Yaga interjected and finished William's statement. "How noble of you, but what if it's still not enough? What if after you have sacrificed everything? Your memories, your love, and those who loved you. What if after sacrificing them all, you still fail to protect those that are important to you? What then?"
William lowered his head as he seriously pondered the answer to Baba Yaga's question. The Old Hag didn't disturb him and simply waited for him to organize his thoughts.
Several minutes passed, and the pin-drop silence rang within the world of darkness, where no light could be seen, no hope could be found, and no warmth could soothe a heart that was slowly turning cold with each passing second.
"If… if after sacrificing everything, and I still fail to protect those that are important to me then I will struggle until the bitter end," William said with his eyes closed. Memories of his life in Asgard flashed across his mind.
In his dying moments, in a world that was surrounded by a blazing inferno, he had felt the warmth of someone holding him dearly. It was the only consolation he got before he drew his last breath in that world whose fate had been set in stone.
Perhaps, Baba Yaga saw the pain in William's expression, so she no longer forced the issue and rested her wrinkled hand on his shoulder.
"I walk in the darkness, so that others may see the light," Baba Yaga said softly. "You choose your own path, Will. Just make sure that when you have made your choice, you will not regret it no matter what."
Baba Yaga patted his shoulder twice before waving her hand, chasing all the darkness away. She had wanted to know how far William was willing to go in order to protect the ones he loved. Although what she did was quite high-handed, the answer that the boy gave her made her feel that all hope was not lost.
"Time will tell, Young Will," Baba Yaga sighed as she watched the Half-Elf fly towards the campfire where her Disciple Celine was waiting for him. "It might take a year, it might take a day. But, what's meant to be will always find its way."
Chapter 1038: Hit The Demon Lord Where It Would Hurt The Most
Princess Sidonie and Lilith stared at Celine as if she was their mortal enemy. For the first time, the two ladies agreed on something, and that was to be wary of the purple-haired woman, who was calmly drinking tea in front of them.
William had invited Celine inside his Thousand Beast Domain, so they could have breakfast together, and the latter accepted his invitation. When the seductive Succubus, and the Amazon Princess saw the beautiful Elf beside their lover, both of them felt threatened, as if their position in William's heart was about to be kicked away by the intruder that had come to their Villa.
Ashe and Chiffon sat on William's left and right sides, and hand fed him with biscuits, even though they had just finished eating breakfast.
Unlike Princess Sidonie and Lilith, Chiffon was quite happy that another one of her sisters seemed to be interested in William. As for Ashe, she had long known that the Half-Elf had feelings for Celine, so she wasn't surprised about this outcome.
Vesta, on the other hand, observed the subtle tension in the air with a smile on her face. For some reason, her inner Demon wanted to see a confrontation between the three ladies, who were calmly drinking tea, as they eyed each other.
"Will, who is she?" Lilith, who still hadn't met Celine, asked. "At first I thought that she was Professor Celeste. But, after careful observation, I realized that her aura is different from hers."
William smiled as he looked at the Amazon Princess who rarely appeared inside his Domain due to her responsibilities as Princess in the Ares Empire.
"She is my Master, Celine Dy Wisteria," William replied as she introduced Celine to his fiance. "Master, this is Princess Lilith of the Amazon Empire. She is my fiance."
Celine looked at Lilith and gave her a brief nod. "I have heard that the Amazon Warriors are always looking for eligible men to bring back to their Empire, so that they can give birth to strong warriors. So, you chose my Disciple as your partner?"
"That's right," Lilith answered.
"You have a weird taste in men."
"… I can't refute that."
The smile on William's face stiffened when he heard Celine's casual jab, as well as Lilith's agreement. For some reason, he had the strong urge to throw the two ladies into the artifact Eternity, and fight them there with two hundred rounds in bed.
"What do you like about him?" Celine asked. "I'm very curious about how the Amazons grade their seed donors."
"Actually, I didn't like him at the start," Lilith replied as she gave William a side-long glance. "I just wanted his seed, but after a series of events, I discovered that I have a thing for redheads, so I decided to make him my life partner."
"That's quite unfortunate. You got the short end of the stick."
"Yes. Truly unfortunate."
The corner of William's lips started to twitch because he didn't know if the two girls were praising him, or making fun of him.
Chiffon, who was listening on the side, giggled as she placed a biscuit against William's pouty lips. The Half-Elf took a bite and chewed it angrily.
'Just you wait, both of you,' William thought. 'I'll make sure to stick it in until the two of you beg for forgiveness.'
Celine and Lilith chatted for a while longer before the Amazon Princess reluctantly left the Thousand Beast Domain to return to her duties. However, before she left, she made sure to give William a passionate kiss and whispered an "I'm sorry" to him, which made William hold back his plan to let Lilith experience the full course of the Kama Sutra in a single night.
After Lilith left, William's expression became serious as he discussed his next plan of action with the ladies in the living room.
"My main goal for coming to the Demon Continent was to find my Master, Celine, and bring her to Hestia Academy. However, I have a feeling that if we let the Demon Lord, and the Gremory Clan continue with their schemes, another war is going to break out. I'm sure that none of us want to see this happen, so I've decided to put our return trip on hold, and throw a wedge in their plans."
Princess Sidonie who played a key role in William's plan nodded her head in agreement. "Although the forces of the Central Continent may seem united on the surface, in truth, they are all waiting for the right opportunity to cut each other's throats.
"An attack by the Demons would allow them to break the delicate balance among them, and use this time to expand their Domains. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if some of these Empires and Kingdoms have already had dealings with the Demons. To be perfectly honest, I am afraid that the Kraetor Empire might have dealings with them as well."
Princess Sidonie sighed as she glanced at Chiffon. The pink-haired girl met her gaze and nodded her head. The fact that she was able to study in the academy for a few months meant that her father, Luciel, and Emperor Leonidas, of the Kraetor Empire had some sort of connection.
Even so, Chiffon didn't regret coming to the human empire to study. If she didn't, she wouldn't have met William, and might have fallen into the corruption of her Divinity.
William lightly patted Chiffon's head as if to reassure her that she was currently safe beside him. The pink-haired girl rested her head on William's chest and wrapped her arms around him. She had no intention of being separated from her husband, even if the entire world were to become her enemy.
"I'm sure that the Gremory Clan are on the lookout for any information regarding me, but I already thought of a fool-proof way to hide my whereabouts from them," William explained. "The only problem is that the Demon Continent is vast. I'm afraid that we won't have enough time to Charm every Major Clan, and make them our double agents before the war starts."
Princess Sidonie nodded because this was also one of her concerns. Traveling the continent took days because there were very few teleportation gates within the continent. All Demons were wary of each other, and they would never build a teleportation gate that could be used by their enemies to amass their troops and attack their territories.
According to one of the Patriarchs that they had charmed, the preparations for the war were underway. He added that the mobilization could start in a month at the soonest, and three months at the latest.
The Gremory Clan had already laid down the groundwork with the backing of the Demon Lord. All they needed was the approval from over seventy of the Major Clans' Patriarchs and this war would commence as soon as possible.
"I asked for Grandmaster's input about the war, but the only thing she told me was that she hated politics," William said with a bitter smile. "However, she did promise that she wouldn't assist the Demon Clans if they crossed their borders to wage war on the Human and Elven lands."
Kenneth, who was listening to their talk with his eyes closed, lightly tapped his fingertip on his armrest.
In truth, William's Mother, Lady Arwen, was also worried about the happenings in the Demon Realm. This was why she asked Kenneth to send her reports about the movements of the Demon Army.
"So, what are you planning to do now?" Vesta asked as she placed her tea cup on the table. "One month is not enough time to cover the entire Demon Realm. If you really want to keep the Demon Army from crossing our borders, you need to come up with a plan to make them reconsider their decision."
William nodded his head in agreement.
"You're right," William replied. "This is why I've decided to attack a place that will leave an impression on all the Major Clans in the Demon Continent."
Vesta narrowed her eyes as she waited for William to continue his statement. She was very curious about what the Half-Elf could possibly do with the limited time that he had.
"Everyone, we are going to the North," William declared. "We will bring down the Gremory Clan, and remove the Demon Lord's one-true-backer. Doing this will be like hitting two birds with one stone. Both of them are inseparable, so this is the best option that we have right now."
Princess Sidonie smirked because she liked William's bold plan to hit the Demon Lord where it would hurt the most. As long as they could take down the Gremory Clan, the other Major Clans would think twice before sending their men to the battlefield.
Chapter 1039: I Am Not The Type That Puts All My Eggs In A Single Basket
Joash twirled the winecup in his hand as he sat on his throne.
"A bold plan, but it won't be that easy to bring down that old snake," Joash muttered. "But, it will suffice as good bait."
The Black Dragon who commanded the strongest fortress in the Demon Continent summoned a round mirror and activated it.
Soon, the image of a wrinkled, grumpy, old hag, appeared on its surface.
"Ah, it's you," Baba Yaga said with a trace of irritation. "What do you want, you black lizard?"
"I only want to know one thing," Joash said with a smile. "Are you going to play as a spectator, or will you join the stage and play your part?"
Baba Yaga snorted as if the mere thought of her dabbling in these muddy waters was enough to disgust her.
"All of you can hack each other to pieces, and I will not give a damn," Baba Yaga answered, "but if any of you plan to use my Disciple as a tool for your foolishness, I will be more than happy to snap all of your necks!"
"Understood." Joash nodded. "So, as long as your Disciple is safe, you will remain outside the fence, correct?"
"That's right."
"Very well. You have my word. I will not include your precious Disciple in our plans."
Baba Yaga scoffed before cutting the connection. She really didn't want to involve herself in the struggle of power in the Demon Realm because this act was beneath her. The Old Hag was a free spirit that came and went as she pleased. There was no one who would dare to annoy her because her Pestle alone was more than enough to annihilate an entire city with a single strike.
Joash was well aware of Baba Yaga's character, so he was pleased that one of the obstacles in his way decided to watch from the sidelines. As long as she doesn't interfere, he was certain that he could cope with any kind of situation.
"One down, two to go," Joash muttered. "If only one of them joins then I can manage. But, if there's two of them…"
The Demon Continent had four Demigods that stood at the peak in the power rankings. Baba Yaga of the North, Joash of the South, Mapinguari of the West, and the wandering Demigod of the East, El Silbon.
Baba Yaga was the strongest of them, and Joash was the second. However, Mapinguari, and El Silbon were just a notch weaker than Joash. The Black Dragon wasn't sure if he would come on top if he fought either one of them in a life and death battle.
'No matter,' Joash tossed the idea aside for the time being as he reactivated the round mirror in front of him. 'Soon, the image of a young man in his late teens appeared in front of him.'
"Adam, how many black stars have you gained?" Joash asked.
"Your Excellency, I only managed to get my third star two days ago after much hardship," Adam reported. "The number of candidates has also dwindled to a third of what it used to be. I estimate that it will take me roughly a month to get the 7th Star, if I am able to survive that long."
"Understood." Joash nodded. "Have you been able to pry some information out of Felix about his father's plans?"
Adam shook his head. "Aside from watching over the progress of the exploration of the Holy Land, he spends most of his time in the company of two ladies. I tried to subtly gauge the strength of these two girls, but what I found out far exceeded my expectations."
"Oh?" Joash arched an eyebrow. He knew what kind of person Adam was, and understood that he wasn't someone who liked to exaggerate things. "Are they that strong?"
Adam nodded. "If I were to make a guess, the two of them might be Sins. It seems that they have a close relationship with Felix. I don't know if they are his acquaintances, or his lovers, but one thing is for sure, both of them are dangerous. I don't dare to investigate them further."
Joash smiled. "As expected of my Disciple. You have done well. For now, don't mind those two ladies. Just focus on collecting those stars, and unlock the secrets in the Holy Land. Remember, you are the key to our plan. Do not disappoint me."
"Yes, Master!" Adam pressed his hands together and bowed respectfully.
After giving a few more reminders to his Disciple, Joash cut the connection to ensure that their communication wouldn't be discovered. He had gone to great lengths in order to allow Adam to stay below the Demon Lord's radar, so he wouldn't be too suspicious of the young man's identity.
"I am not the type that puts all my eggs in a single basket," Joash muttered as he activated the mirror for the third time. "A new era will open, and those of the old would have no choice but to acknowledge the change of times. This is merely the opening gambit to bring an end to all struggles."
The surface of the mirror rippled as an old man with white hair appeared in front of Joash.
"Joash, how are things in the Demon Realm?" Byron, the Headmaster of Hestia Academy asked with a smile. His old face held a trace of amusement, as if he was looking at a wonderful toy that he had just discovered.
"So-so," Joash replied. "Have you prepared things on your end?"
Byron nodded. "We have prepared to the best we can. All that we need to do is wait for the prophecy to come to pass."
Joash smirked. "Don't we all?"
Both men chuckled. They were people who held great power and influence in their respective factions, so working together was something that both of them benefitted from.
"Adam just told me that the trials in the Holy Land might only last for just over a month," Joah stated. "It's only a matter of time before Luciel makes his move also."
"Is William not a good enough bait?" Byron asked. "I could have sworn that Luciel would immediately go and find him as soon as he made waves in his home turf. This is why I personally delegated him to go to the Demon Realm to find Celine. As long as the two of them are together, Luciel will have no choice but to pay attention to them."
The Black Dragon nodded in understanding.
"Luciel is not as bold as he used to be after losing his arm," Joash replied. "However, as long as William and Celine are together, he will have no choice but to pay attention to them."
The Black Dragon knew that fighting against Fate was a very difficult thing to do.
This was why he decided to take control of it instead. As long as he played his cards right, he believed that he would be able to guide the events that would soon happen to his desired outcome.
An outcome that would have a higher chance of letting the world of Hestia survive the disaster that would soon come knocking on its doors.
Chapter 1040: The Forces Under Alvah's Command
"Okay, let's start our strategy meeting," William said as he scanned the faces of everyone that would be participating in the attack against the capital city of the Gremory Clan, Lexicon. "Cassey, tell us everything you know about our opponents."
The Patriarch of the Rajah Clan nodded her head as she explained all the information that she had gathered over the years.
"The Gremory Clan is recognized as the strongest demon clan in the continent. They have a total of seven cities, and have twenty Vassal Clans," Cassey explained. "Five of those twenty are medium-sized Clans, which all have their own Vassal Clans under them.
"There are no Major Clans in the northern regions of the Demon Continent who dare to challenge their authority. This has allowed them to set their sights on other places, and expand their territories from there."
Cassey paused as she took a crystal out from her storage ring and activated it. Immediately, the image of Alvah, as well as the forces under his command appeared on the list.
"Aside from his personal army, Alvah also has three Myriad Beast under him," Cassey said as she waved her hand, showing the three monsters that served as Alvah's trump cards.
The image of a six-meter tall monster with thick white fur, and sharp fangs appeared in front of everyone.
"The Great Yeti, Banffa, is the Protector Beast of the frozen north, and is said to call upon the power of blizzards when battling against its opponents," Cassey stated. "Please note that aside from the names of the Beasts, and their ranks, everything else is just rumors that I've gathered over the years. Meaning, whether this monster is capable of summoning blizzards or not, is something that is not confirmed."
Cassey waved her hand again and the image of the Great Yeti disappeared, this time, a five-hundred-meter long Snake with nine heads appeared in the projection.
"This monster is called a Xiangliu. It is a very venomous monster whose regeneration abilities wouldn't lose to that of a Hydra. It participated in the great battle against the Silvermoon Continent, but it was grievously injured when it fought against the Ancient Golem Drauum."
William crossed his arms over his chest when he heard the name of the Ancient Golem who had become a nightmare to him during the war in the Southern Continent.
Since it was an ancient golem, it was immune to poison, so it is quite understandable that the Xiangliu wasn't a match against it.
"Lastly, Argus Panoptes," Cassey frowned as the image of a Giant, with over a hundred eyes on its head, was projected in front of them. "This Giant is often referred to as All-Seeing because it can see through disguises, as well as invisible things, for miles. It is also the one that guards the Capital City of Lexicon.
"With it standing guard, any plans to attack the capital city will be thwarted long before the attackers reach the walls of the city. You could even say that it is the greatest hurdle that we must overcome if we plan to take Gremory Clan's stronghold by storm."
William stared at the giant monster, but he wasn't too concerned about it. With the plan he had in mind, it wouldn't matter whether the hundred-eyed monster saw them or not.
"How about the defenses of the City of Lexicon?" William asked. "How large is the army that protects it?"
Cassey pondered before giving an answer.
"According to the spy I planted in that city many years ago, they have at least three-hundred thousand troops guarding the capital city," Cassey answered. "The weakest among them are in the Mithril Rank (Grade A Monster). They were personally handpicked among the strongest warriors that were born among the vassals of the Gremory Clan.
"The rest of the Gremory Clan's army is stationed along the borders of their territory. If given time, the number of their forces could triple if the reinforcements from the different clans arrive to help defend the city."
Cassey snapped her fingers and a map of the city appeared in front of everyone.
"Lexicon City is also the second biggest city in the Demon Continent, its size is roughly a hundred square miles, and home to at least two to four million demons.
William nodded in understanding. He was quite impressed by Cassey's knowledge about the Gremory Clan, which meant that she had been paying close attention to them ever since she became Patriarch of her Clan.
"So, where is the residence of the Gremory Clan located?" William asked.
Cassey sighed as she looked at the projection of the city.
"The residence of the Gremory Clan can't be found in the city," Cassey explained. "The first Patriarch of the Gremory Clan was a cautious individual, so he decided to keep the main residence of their Clan hidden and use a fake residence in the city to meet the dignitaries and other officials of the different Clans that visit Lexicon City."
William arched an eyebrow because he didn't expect that even Cassey didn't know where the residence of the Gremory Clan was located.
He understood that as long as they were not aware of its location, they wouldn't be able to deal a devastating blow to the strongest clan in the Demon Continent. This was the only way that they could think of in order to make the other Major Clans reconsider their decision to join the large-scale war that the Demon Lord was planning to execute.
"Are there other things that you liked to add?" William inquired just in case Cassey had forgotten to say any important information that she currently had.
Cassey nodded. "There's one more thing that I think you should know. The Ancient Ruins that have been recently discovered are just fifty miles away from Lexicon City. I have no idea how many troops are stationed in that place, but I heard that all those who possess Dark Magic in the Demon Realm are now gathered in that location."
William and Celine exchanged a glance at each other before shifting their attention back to Cassey. When they were still inside Eternity, the two of them had talked about the strong attraction that the Ancient Ruins had over the two of them.
The Half-Elf would be lying if he said that he wasn't tempted to visit the place. However, his gut instinct was telling him to never set foot in that place. Celine also didn't want to go to that place because she felt that going there would endanger her life.
This was why the Master and Disciple pair decided to never go to that destination, where the pull of darkness was strong enough to make them lose control of their senses for a brief period of time.