CHAPTER 449 – THAT’S A MASSIVE GRUDGE

At this juncture, a pervasive sense of dread and anxiety gripped the inhabitants of the most opulent residential area adjacent to the Royal Palace. The catalyst was a high-stakes airborne battle between two formidable forces. The resulting oppressive atmosphere weighed on them like an intangible mountain.

The sensation was distressing and had been lingering for an extended period. Within the confines of a certain mansion, its courtyard ravaged, a diminutive figure stood upright. This figure emitted a potent aura, causing the ground to crumble beneath its influence. The air around her rippled subtly as the energy pulsed outward.

On the mansion’s outskirts, knights on guard duty trembled in terror. The desire to escape this immediate area and seek refuge as far away as possible was overwhelming. The horrifying aura of Double-ax Lili threatened to shatter their bones.

Austin, the leader of the Knights’ Order, wore a deeply furrowed brow, his expression solemn as he gathered his fighting spirit. His assessment led him to believe that without risking his life, he stood no chance against Lili. Nonetheless, the realization of the power gap only served to fuel his desire to prevail – to defeat Lili and rise to new heights.

However, Lili remained indifferent towards Austin and his knights. Her attention was entirely elsewhere. Puzzled, she wondered why Richard’s aura hadn’t waned despite the passage of time. To her knowledge, Richard didn’t possess such immense power. If he did, he would have confronted Alicia much sooner rather than procrastinating.

Suddenly, realization dawned on Lili, causing her eyes to widen. Something wasn’t adding up. At that moment, the Royal Palace was enveloped in an explosion of silver light followed by a resounding boom. Recognizing the distinct silver light, Lili shouted involuntarily, “[Sword of Eternity]!” It was now clear to her that she had been duped.

“I had Richard sufficiently contained… How then, did he manage to surface there?” A torrent of confusion rushed through Lili, but she quickly cast aside her bewilderment. She simply didn’t have the luxury of time to dwell on it. Swiftly, she sprang into action, darting into the fray, a silent prayer for her sister and the Princess on her lips.

Just as she launched into flight, Austin materialized before her. “My deputy chief, heading somewhere at this ungodly hour?” He jeered. A powerful surge of battle intent radiated from him as he spoke, every muscle in his body tensed, his aura intimidating and overwhelming, rendering him a human vortex.

“Out of my way!” Lili retorted, her response a powerful punch. Her move was simplistic yet potent, driven by her formidable strength. As she advanced, a gleam of thrill sparked in Austin’s eyes. He deftly pivoted on his left foot, responding with a punch from his right fist.

The collision of their fists ignited a powerful force that burst out in all directions akin to a snowstorm. The hapless Knights were swept off their feet, their terrified cries resonating through the air.

Meanwhile, the Palace was a flurry of activity. Fifteen Magicians, cloaked in dark robes, encircled a massive formation within the main hall. Their hands raised, they mumbled incantations. At the center of this formation floated a giant crystal radiating a horrifying blue aura, eerily identical to Richard’s.

It appeared that Richard had devised a backup plan while keeping Lili occupied. He used this crystal, infused with his energy, to dupe Lili while he personally retrieved the [Sword of Eternity] from the Royal Treasury with Alicia as his target.

Earlier on.

In the Palace gardens, a group of players led by S.K.Y. and Taurus lingered, awaiting the final wave of challengers. Suddenly, a striking man in opulent attire wielding an elegant sword lunged at them without warning. The silver gleam of his blade struck the black rockery, revealing glowing fissures. In a matter of moments, he executed a dozen more attacks, leaving the rockery riddled with cracks before it crumbled into dust.

The players stared agape at the spectacle. The man had obliterated the massive rockery in mere seconds – a display of raw power that left them speechless. Yet, the show wasn’t over.

The handsome man hovered several meters above the ground. Grasping the sword’s hilt tightly, the blade ignited in a brilliant silver light. An overwhelming aura emanated from him, causing those beneath to shudder uncontrollably. It was then that members of the Direct Army recognized him as their leader, Emperor Richard.

In mid-air, the sword absorbed the surrounding magical energy. The onlookers puzzled over why Richard hesitated to strike despite the sword brimming with power. The target was apparent – the underground maze. The reasoning, however, was a mystery.

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Could this be related to the succubus bounty? One of them wondered. Those in the know were stunned. The Emperor himself was taking action against the Eldest Princess. And he was wielding the clan’s most formidable weapon, the [Sword of Eternity].

Richard remained impassive as he channeled his energy into the weapon. He understood that the underground maze couldn’t be taken down with ordinary attacks. Only the strongest could breach its defenses. “If one strike fails, I’ll strike again, and again… She must die before she recovers. The repercussions would be grave otherwise.” Family bonds were insignificant compared to claiming the throne. Hence, Alicia had to die!

Even before the attack was launched, the ground trembled under the intense pressure. The surrounding space seemed to pulse, on the verge of tearing apart. After a while, Richard’s eyes hardened. He gripped the hilt and swung the [Sword of Eternity]. Instantaneously, the sky changed color as his power directly hit the underground maze!

“Wow, what a powerful blow!” Little Fairy exclaimed. The underground maze, better known as the [City of Chaos], reeled under the impact. The city’s central region shook violently, resembling an earthquake. Yunuen barely maintained her balance, quickly grabbing Little Fairy’s hand. They clung to each other while Yaeger and Alicia stood firm.

“This maniac has crossed all limits!” Little Blue cried out in disbelief.
“What’s the matter?” Yaeger inquired.
“I severely underestimated his strength and the damage to the [City of Chaos]. The maze regions are totally destroyed!” Little Blue lamented.

Yaeger’s pupils narrowed, her fists clenched tightly. “How dare he destroy my property? Richard will pay for this!” She swore.