Castro felt the cold edge of the dagger against his throat and snapped back to reality.
"If I mess up here, Iʼm dead."
On a typical battlefield, they wouldnʼt carelessly kill a commander. They usually captured them and demanded ransom—that was the standard protocol.
But the situation was different now.
With Prince Leo having declared himself heir and the Rom Empire crumbling, Castroʼs family, House Pollock, lacked the power to intervene.
Moreover, Castroʼs alliance with the dark mages and his summoning of monsters and magical beasts had been exposed, giving the allied forces ample justification to execute him.
In fact, if this assailant slit his throat right then, the war itself would essentially end.
Desperate, Castro turned to Boris and said, "Are you with Draker? The Black Stage? How about a quick chat? I donʼt know the Black Stageʼs terms, but if you spare me, I promise twice the wealth and honor he offered."
In his panic, flattery spilled out uncontrollably.
Naturally, Boris wasnʼt swayed by Castroʼs words.
He pressed the dagger closer to Castroʼs throat and spoke. "Where is the Red King? We all know youʼre just a figurehead."
Castroʼs face twisted in anger at Borisʼs words, and he shouted, "I am the commander of this castle!"
"Right, got it. So where are the Red King and the Dracul Knight Order, Commander?"
The intelligence unit members had been searching Jupiter Castle for traces of the Dracul Knight Order, but they had already vanished.
Castro ground his teeth and said, "...Those bastards fled Jupiter Castle ages ago.
Theyʼre honorless country bumpkins! Not fit to be knights...!"
Watching Castro yell in agitation, Boris realized he wasnʼt lying.
"So the Red King and the Dracul Knight Order were elsewhere. Were they planning to hit the allied forces from behind...?"
Boris stopped there, as it was just speculation. At any rate, having confirmed the Red King wasnʼt in Jupiter Castle, he decided to prioritize opening the main gate.
If the allied forces seized the enemyʼs stronghold, Jupiter Castle, the Red King and Dracul Knight Order outside would be isolated. He didnʼt know their scheme, but in Borisʼs judgment, this was the best course.
Holding Castro, he pulled out a crystal ball and issued orders to his subordinates. "Weʼve secured Castro Pollock. Proceed with assassinating key personnel and securing the gates."
Hearing Borisʼs instructions, Castro trembled with rage. "You damned mongrels..."
But then—
"Gah!"
Castro, gripped by Boris, began convulsing violently.
"What the—?"
At first, Boris thought Castro was faking it.
But soon, he sensed the unnatural energy surging from him.
Boris released Castro and retreated, channeling his aura to slash at his throat.
Slash!
Castroʼs head split open and thudded to the floor.
But that wasnʼt the end. From the severed neck, tentacle-like appendages began sprouting.
Ssssh—
The tentacles extended, slapping against the cross-section of the fallen head and reattaching it.
Groooar—
A monstrous roar emanated from the reconnected head of Castro.
Boris was startled by the sudden transformation into a monster but steadied himself and shouted to his team. "A dark mage is controlling Castro! Find the hidden one!" Hearing Boris, Sion turned and extended his psychokinesis widely.
Then, a dark mage with waxy skin, who had been pretending to be dead on the floor, rose and drew a dagger etched with grotesque runes.
The sinister energy from the dagger was manipulating the monstrous Castro.
Grrrrr—
Castroʼs body sprouted tentacles everywhere as he gaped his mouth and swelled in size.
Boris drew his sword, slicing through the tentacles with an aura blade, and yelled, "Adol!
Weʼre pulling back!"
They had essentially lost Castro, but they had achieved their goal, so retreat was wisest.
Adol punched a hole in the stone chamber floor, creating an escape route.
Seeing this, the dark mage commanded Castro to pursue the fleeing intelligence unit.
"Capture them!"
At the order, Castroʼs arms elongated, lunging to ensnare Boris.
Luther, who had been facing the dark mages, leaped in and severed Castroʼs arm with his sword.
Slash—
As Luther unleashed an aura-infused strike, he simultaneously cast a spell to ignite flames.
Whoosh!
The sudden blaze obscured the dark magesʼ vision.
In that gap, the intelligence unit slipped into the escape route.
Luther covered their retreat and shouted to Boris, who was still holding the rear. "Captain Boris! Hurry!"
But Boris stared in shock at something.
"What is that?"
The severed tentacles writhed, crawling toward the fallen black casket.
The ominous legacy left by Emperor Nero was drawing them in.
The tentacles burrowed into the casketʼs seams in response to its call.
Rumble—
Moments later, the casket shook violently.
Then, something exploded from within, and Boris, forgoing escape, heightened his senses to assess the situation.
Boom—
The dark mage controlling Castro also panicked as the casketʼs contents broke free without intervention.
Both the dark mage and Boris tensed, watching intently as the casketʼs occupant formed a cocoon-like shape and extended tentacles in all directions.
Borisʼs face hardened.
"It looks similar to that mass of flesh from the Siemens Labyrinth...?" Not exactly the same, but equally ominous.
The black cocoonʼs tentacles ensnared not only the monstrous Castro but the dark mages as well.
"You bastards!"
The dark mage, unprepared for this, panicked and tried to control it with magic.
But the black cocoon ignored him, extending tentacles to drag the dead dark magesʼ corpses into itself and devour them.
It then swallowed the tentacled Castro in one gulp.
Gulp!
An odd reaction stirred within the black cocoon that had consumed Castro.
Thump!
It vibrated like a massive heartbeat.
The dark mage, ensnared by a tentacle, reached toward the watching Boris. "S-Save me!" Boris snapped to and shouted at the dark mage. "What is that monster? Why did Castro suddenly transform?!"
The dark mage shuddered at the creepy sensation of the tentacle burrowing into him and yelled, "The-the seed of chaos! We implanted the seed of chaos in Castro! But this monster... Emperor Neroʼs legacy... I never expected...!"
Suddenly, the dark mageʼs face shriveled like a mummy. The tentacle coiled around him slurped up his essence.
Rumble—
The cocoon extended a tentacle toward Boris.
Gritting his teeth, Boris pulled a mana bomb from his pouch and hurled it at the cocoon.
"Damn monster!"
He threw the bomb and dove into the escape route.
As Adol sealed the entrance, a massive explosion rocked above.
Boom boom boom boom!
The last to descend, Boris pulled out his crystal ball and urgently addressed his subordinates. "Alert all units! Evacuate the castle immediately! Hurry!" *
Zeke looked at the Red King and said, "Red King, why do I sense the aura of a dragon from you?"
The Red King stood motionless, axe in hand.
He merely glared, and as Zeke took another step forward toward the unmoving figure, he said, "You donʼt intend to speak, then."
Zekeʼs eyes transformed into Dragon Eyes, and the dragonʼs aura emanated from his body.
As the dragonʼs power rippled, the ravine known as the Dragonʼs Grave responded.
Rumble!
A gust swept through the ravine, enveloping Zeke and the Red King in mist.
The Dracul knights rushed to protect the Red King, but the mist parted between him and them.
Rumble!
In the swirling mist gale, Zeke and the Red King faced each other alone.
Zeke regarded the Red King and said, "The armor youʼre wearing. Itʼs all made from dragon bones."
Even a single piece of Hercion was a priceless artifact worth a small fiefʼs castle.
If the entire Hercion was crafted from dragon bones, its value was beyond measure.
Hearing Zeke, the Red King raised his axe again.
Hummm!
Red energy gathered on the Red Kingʼs axe once more.
Crackle!
Threatening red lightning arced outward, but Zeke shook his head.
"No matter how I look at it, you donʼt have the presence of a Black Knight."
Watching the red lightning, Zeke continued, "If my guess is right... youʼre not the real
Red King."
As if resisting Zekeʼs words, the Red King kicked off the ground and leaped into the air.
Crackle!
Red lightning pierced the mist gale, striking toward Zeke.
Zeke swung Laevatein, canceling the incoming lightning.
Boom!
His sword pressure repelled not only the lightning but also hurled the airborne Red King backward.
The Red King gripped his axe again, preparing a fierce assault on Zeke, but Zeke had already vanished from the ground.
"Are you looking for me?"
Zeke appeared behind the Red King and swung at him.
Whoosh!
The powerful sword strike landed squarely on the Red Kingʼs back.
Boom!
Unable to withstand the impact, the Red King crashed into the ground.
Rumble!
In the mist gale, the Red King struggled to rise and reached for his distant axe.
The axe flew back into his grasp on its own.
Gripping it again, he summoned his power.
This time, red light flowed from the Hercion he wore.
Ssssh—
Geometric patterns emerged on the Hercionʼs surface, drawing energy into the axe.
Hummm!
The Red King swung the axe, unleashing a mighty blow at the airborne Zeke.
Whoosh!
The red energy morphed into a dragon-like form, lunging to devour Zeke.
Seeing this, Zeke raised Laevatein into a Dragon Slaying Technique stance.
Hummm!
Activating Black Sword Qi: Black Dragon Emerges from Water, a black dragon burst from his sword, charging at the Red Kingʼs red dragon.
Boom boom boom!
In midair, the red and black dragons clashed, tearing at each other.
But the collision was brief; the Red Kingʼs red dragon was swiftly ensnared and devoured by Zekeʼs black dragon.
Roooar!
The black dragon, having grown larger after consuming the red one, lunged at the axewielding Red King.
Red energy surged fiercely from the Red Kingʼs Hercion.
Ssssh—
As the red energies converged to form a barrier, the black dragon slammed into it.
Boom boom boom!
The clash of black dragon and barrier sent shockwaves rippling outward.
Even the ravineʼs dragon-controlling power couldnʼt contain the black dragonʼs aura, and the gale dissipated.
Crack crack—
Under the immense force, cracks began spreading across the red barrier blocking the black dragon.
The Red King gripped his axe, struggling to hold it, but it was futile.
Soon, the barrier shattered completely.
Crunch!
The black dragon savagely bit and coiled around the Red King.
Boom boom!
The area around the Red King turned to rubble, engulfed in a black gale.
Zeke hovered, watching the black gale enveloping the Red King.
As the gale subsided, Zeke descended to the ground.
The surrounding mist had cleared.
With the obstructing mist gone, the Dracul Knight Order revealed themselves.
They raised shields and charged at Zeke.
Seeing them, Zeke unleashed Draconic Tongue toward the Dracul knights.
"Bind."
The Draconic Tongue infused with Full Power Technique seized the Dracul knightsʼ bodies.
The Dracul knights couldnʼt move, as if rooted to the spot.
As the gale fully died down, Zeke approached the fallen Red King in the devastated ravine center.
The Red King clutched his axe, barely holding on.
His protective Hercion lay in tatters, scattered on the ground.
"Urk."
As the Red King tried to rise, his face-concealing helmet shattered and fell.
At the same time, the red hair tied inside the helmet cascaded down.
Through the red locks, a woman with an intelligent visage lifted her head and glared at Zeke.
Zeke nodded at her. "As I thought, youʼre not the Red King."
He continued slowly to the false Red King. "Why get involved in this war? Vlad II.
Bathory Basarab."