"Ah, so you recognize it, truly impressive, Your Majesty," Hendrix said in a smooth, menacing tone.
He slowly ascended the carpeted steps toward the high throne, calmly stepping over the convulsing bodies of nobles in their final death throes.
"A rare poison that specifically targets the blood circulation."
"It's undetectable without a special reagent."
"The more you've ingested that wine previously, the faster it paralyzes you. Your soldiers were far too busy searching for enemy troops outside the city walls, Your Majesty."
"They completely forgot to check the imperial kitchens, Hahahaha."
Lilia felt her knees go entirely weak, sliding down the steps. She looked down at her own golden chalice, which had spilled its contents onto the marble floor.
She hadn't drunk a single drop of it yet.
But the others, even if just a single sip, are already the same as waiting for death, unless there is a high-ranking healer here.
But sadly, no one in this place have a qualifications required for that, especially not in this condition.
She looked at Yoana, who was leaning heavily against a marble pillar, using her sword as a crude crutch. Her teeth were gritted in sheer agony as she fought the poison.
Maria, too, was slumped helplessly against the banister, struggling to move her legs.
The Grand Hall had turned into a literal slaughterhouse.
The Black Shadows moved with terrifying, robotic efficiency, driving their daggers into the throats of the paralyzed nobles.
The air grew thick with the metallic stench of fresh blood.
"Lilia..." Then suddenly, a low voice could be heard not too far from her.
A weak, trembling hand suddenly grabbed Lilia's wrist. It was her mother, Empress Neyla, briefly opening her eyes with the last ounce of her fading strength.
Tears streamed down the Empress's pale face. "Run... you must... run..."
"Mother! No, please!" Lilia cried out in despair, clutching her mother's freezing hand.
"Hendrix!" Emperor Urzha roared.
Despite the lethal poison actively tearing his bloodstream apart, the giant of a man forced his body to stand.
With a deafening battle cry, he unleashed a raw wave of pure kinetic force, instantly blowing away three Black Shadows who tried to approach his wife and Lilia.
There was a clear reason why he was the Emperor.
Beneath his gentle demeanor toward his daughter lay a physical strength and magical prowess well above average—surpassing even Hendrix by a wide margin under normal circumstances.
Hendrix merely raised a thin eyebrow, lifting his dark staff. A thick barrier of dark mana easily absorbed the Emperor's weakened strike. "Impressive. To still exert such force while your veins are completely rotting. But it's futile."
"Under normal conditions, I might not stand a single chance against you, especially because of that barrier you place here." Hendrix, then start chanting some spells.
"But did you forget that black magic can't be blocked by a normal barrier like that one? Now, you're just asking for an early death!" With a sharp flick of his wrist, Hendrix unleashed three spears of concentrated purple dark magic that were flying fast toward the Emperor.
They pierced violently through the Emperor's chest, shoulders, and thigh.
SPURT!
"Father! No!!" Lilia shrieked.
Emperor Urzha fell to his knees, his breathing ragged, but his eyes never left Hendrix. "You... You... will never... rule this empire... in peace..."
"Don't worry, I will," Hendrix whispered, standing directly in front of the dying sovereign. He raised his staff high, dark energy swirling at the tip.
"Because by tomorrow, the world will know that the Barbarian kingdom invaded the border and sent assassins to slaughter the Imperial family and all the guests present. Hahaha!." Rays of dark magic began to emerge from his staff again, illuminating the surroundings of the staff.
"And I, Grand Wizard Hendrix, will take all the credit and open a war with those savage bastards to avenge you!"
FLASH!
A blinding explosion of dark magic consumed the imperial throne. When the light faded, Emperor Urzha and Empress Neyla lay still, their life force completely extinguished.
"No... No... NO!!!!"
Lilia collapsed to the floor, her mind fracturing from the sheer weight of the trauma. In a single hour, her safe, luxurious world had been completely pulverized into ash.
"Maria! Take Lilia and get out of here! Now!" Princess Yoana screamed from below.
She was surrounded by three Black Shadows, her body covered in deep blood as she desperately tried to buy them time. "Go! Through the altar!"
"Yoana!" Maria cried out, but she knew her parents were already lost.
Gritting her teeth, she ignored the burning agony of the poison in her veins.
She grabbed Lilia's arm and dragged her terrified sister toward the hidden passage behind the grand altar.
Behind them, Hendrix's cold eyes locked onto their retreating figures. He didn't even give chase.
He simply gestured to his masked assassins.
"Bring the young son of that idiot emperor and lock him up in the deepest dungeon. I've a great use for him later."
Hendrix ordered, his pitch-black eyes narrowing as he looked toward the dark opening of the altar. "As for the other two who managed to get out... hunt them down... like wild dogs."
The air inside the escape tunnel was cold, damp, and smelled of decaying stone. Lilia stumbled, her heavy sapphire gown tearing against the rough floor.
Tears blurred her vision, but Maria's tight, iron grip on her wrist kept dragging her forward.
Behind them, the muffled sounds of screams and clashing steel from the Grand Hall began to fade. It was replaced by a much more terrifying sound—the rhythmic, synchronized clicking of metal boots.
The Black Shadows were already inside the tunnel. Searching for their prey.
"They're too fast," Maria gasped, her breath ragged.
She leaned heavily against the stone wall, coughing violently. Strands of her golden hair were matted with sweat and dark, tainted blood.
The poison was rapidly destroying her internal mana pathways. "The poison... It's spreading. Dammit..."
Suddenly, a brilliant flare of blue light illuminated the tunnel behind them.