Caesar fell into a contemplative silence… Alongside Baan, there were still six other equally terrifying demon lords…
"Fear not, for they remain in slumber; as of now, only the Goblin King has awakened. However, in a few days, that may no longer hold true… Ha ha ha ha…"
Cold sweat trickled down Caesar's brow. "Hmph! Regardless, I will thwart your attempts to invade humanity!"
"Caesar, is the justice you hold in your heart truly justice? What exactly is your concept of justice? Have you genuinely pondered it?"
Caesar replied solemnly, "Of course. The justice I seek is to shield humanity from the threats of death and to allow us to live freely under the sun, side by side with those I cherish as we gaze at the setting sun."
"You are exceedingly naive. What you advocate necessitates the slaughter of our kind. Perhaps you have never considered that we were the original inhabitants of this land… You humans are the true invaders."
These words left Caesar utterly astonished. Indeed, he had never contemplated the matter from this perspective. His thoughts were quite simple: when humanity faced danger, he would rise to confront the monsters, accept missions, earn commissions, and breach teleportation arrays… that was his daily life. Now, however, Barn's few remarks had shaken his convictions.
"You… don't attempt to brainwash me! Monsters are dangerous! We humans merely seek to protect ourselves…"
"Ha ha ha~ Do you even believe that yourself? Never mind… we can discuss it another time! Zoe has arrived…"
"I have one more thing to say to you. Although you occupy my body… I still welcome you, Caesar, ha ha ha ha ha…"
"What did you say?!" Caesar exclaimed in surprise, suddenly springing to his feet, startling even Zoe, who dropped the glass cup and the herbal concoction in her hands, which clattered to the floor.
As Zoe complained, she knelt down to gather the shattered glass and scattered herbs, muttering, "At your age, still having nightmares… You are the mightiest warrior of the dragon race; how can you act like a child?"
The moment her words escaped her lips, Zoe immediately realized her mistake. She glanced up timidly at Barn and tentatively asked, "B-Barn, you didn't hear what I just said, did you…?"
Caesar smiled nonchalantly and replied, "No… I'm just a child, how could I hear your complaints!"
Zoe immediately knelt in apology. "My Lord Barn, I apologize; I spoke without thinking…"
Caesar laughed heartily. "It's alright, it's alright; I don't mind." He looked down at his body, marveling at its astonishing regenerative ability.
Noticing this, Zoe softly remarked, "My Lord Barn, do you feel that your recovery speed has slowed?"
Caesar listened, his heart quietly astonished: "Good heavens, the regenerative ability is already so remarkable, yet Zoe claims it has slowed… How fearsome must Barn have been before!"
While Caesar remained immersed in shock, Zoe's thoughts drifted elsewhere, and a realization surfaced within her… The Barn before her was so transformed, almost unrecognizably alluring. At this thought, a delicate blush crept across Zoe's cheeks, and she subtly shifted her posture, revealing a hint of shyness.
Caesar cleared his throat and inquired, "Zoe, are you well? If you're feeling unwell, you should rest; I can manage things here myself."
Zoe was momentarily taken aback, her cheeks reddening further, and she immediately bowed deeply, saying, "I-I'm sorry, Lord Barn!" Before she could finish, she covered her crimson face and hurriedly exited Barn's chamber, her figure disappearing into the depths of the corridor.
Caesar gazed quizzically in the direction of Zoe's departure, a smirk forming on his lips: "She truly resembles a little girl…"
Yet, in that fleeting moment, a thought flickered through his mind—Zoe was also of the demon race, and as a dragon, she belonged to one of the most powerful factions among them. However, her demeanor just now revealed an unexpectedly charming side… With this thought, Caesar fell into a moment of contemplation, faintly sensing that Barn's words carried a semblance of truth, compelling him to reflect.
**********************
Weeks later, a festive atmosphere enveloped the White Fortress.
A magnificent crimson carpet unfurled across the ground before the city gates, symbolizing the highest honors bestowed upon the triumphant return of the Sage Slaying Squad. Crowds of citizens gathered outside the gates, eagerly awaiting the return of their heroes. On either side of the red carpet, lightly armored warriors stood in orderly rows, brandishing their long swords, their blades raised at a 45-degree angle, chanting in unison, "Welcome back to the city, Sage Slaying Squad! Welcome back to the city, Sage Slaying Squad!" The cheers rolled like waves, stirring the hearts of all present.
Petals rained down from above, accompanied by the resounding rhythm of drummers, adding vibrant colors to the celebratory scene. The fervent cheers intertwined with stirring melodies, saturating the entire setting with a solemn yet grand atmosphere.
The procession advanced steadily into the city, "They're here, they're here!" The crowd erupted with excitement, clamoring to catch a glimpse of the Sage Slaying Squad—this nearly invincible team, a symbol of unparalleled glory and power.
At the forefront of the group rode the tall and formidable captain, Odissis, on his majestic steed. Not only was he the leader of the Slaying Squad, but he was also one of the five sages of the White Fortress. Countless young women within the city gasped in awe at the sight of his handsome visage, calling out his name in delight. The city gates erupted into a frenzy, the cacophony of voices rising like a tide, the celebratory atmosphere reaching a fever pitch, akin to a fervent wave.
In the center of the procession, several soldiers cautiously pushed a heavy cart, upon which lay a massive dragon adorned with deep blue scales. Despite its colossal size and regal presence, the creature was marred with numerous scars, its breath now faint. Its scales glimmered coldly under the sun, causing onlookers to gasp in astonishment.
Upon witnessing this sight, the crowd fell into a momentary silence, which was swiftly shattered by an even greater uproar. Waves of admiration and awe surged, elevating Captain Odissis to new heights: "Captain Odissis truly deserves his title as the strongest! He has subdued even such a terrifying dragon!" The atmosphere in the city was swept away by wild joy, with no one untouched by the euphoria of victory!
"Ha ha ha ha! No need to praise me; I'm not that strong…" Behind the cart stood a burly man, his muscular frame shouldering a massive axe. He waved at the crowd, but the smiles of the people gradually faded, their enthusiasm seemingly not as vibrant as he had anticipated.
"Tch… Is it really that superficial? Do we need to consider appearance even in battle? What a joke!" The speaker was none other than Miku, the vice-captain of the Sage Slaying Squad, his tone tinged with disdain.
Thus, amidst the enthusiastic cheers of the populace, the welcoming ceremony came to a joyful conclusion!
**White Fortress - Conference Room**
"Report, Great Elder, I have returned…" Odissis said, bowing slightly, his tone imbued with respect.
The Great Elder Aldric, the highest-ranking sage of the White Fortress and the leader of the five great sages, nodded slightly, saying, "Ah, you have returned, Odissis. The purple teleportation circle in the south has been successfully dealt with by you, correct?"
Odissis responded, "Indeed, Great Elder. It was a trivial matter for me, and I also succeeded in capturing a dragon!"
The Great Elder nodded, "Well done. Hand the dragon over to the other sorcerers for processing. Dragon's blood is a precious elixir, and you have accomplished a significant feat!"
Odissis expressed his gratitude, saying, "Thank you for your praise, Great Elder…" At that moment, he noticed Niya seated beside him. "Hmph… is that not the gatekeeper Niya?"
Niya stared silently at Odissis, seemingly waiting for his explanation.
Odissis teased, "Ha, I heard that during your watch, you were surprisingly attacked by that Barn. What a joke… if word gets out, it would certainly tarnish the reputation of our White Fortress!"
Niya, fuming with anger, stood up and glared at Odissis, "What do you mean by that!?!?!"