In the expanse of the Ardoros Continent belonging to the Devereaux family, at its center, stood a citadel surrounded by several spires, embodying an enormous architecture part of a grandiose palace covering an area of 1.23 square miles.
Though the values seem exaggerated, belonging to one of Ardoros’ strongest families, it was not surprising to witness a grandiose palace whose mere sight was visible from thousands of miles away.
The walls, shimmering and shrouded in dark black marble with hints of orange, stretched across the area, marking a significant dot on the vast map of the Ardoros Continent known as the Devereaux Fortress.
The sheer size of this architecture, with rooms as large as ballrooms, underscored the strength and status the Devereaux family held worldwide.
With an astonishing number of 10,434 rooms occupying 75% of the 1.23 square miles, the entirety of it seemed almost surreal.
The morning rays falling on the black marbles appeared to be absorbed rather than reflected.
Yet, escaping the grasp of this human masterpiece, some rays found their way inside through one of the open windows.
“My Lady, the Sanctum seems to be in chaos these days due to the formation of a new faction after the arrival of the new Saintess,” a man informed, bowing with his gaze downward, knelt in front of a woman lazily seated on a regal throne atop a platform, inside a room that resembled more of a vast hall, adorned with several heads of different monsters embedded in the walls.
The room itself was filled with a collection of various species, artifacts, and even swords belonging to the heirlooms of several warrior races that had been eradicated while protecting these same swords, now carelessly thrown into a corner of the room.
Yet, this was merely the beginning of the treasures lying within this room. From Etherium Crystals to Draconic Contracts, items of immense value were treated like garbage, strewn about carelessly.
The Draconic Contracts signified that the owner of this place had formed pacts with High-Class Dragons, creatures that reigned supreme over their territories, yet here they were reduced to mere slaves at the hands of the figure seated on the regal throne.
This single room was in itself a treasure chest, where a single piece could be enough to shake the entire world, yet they lay about like rubble, scattered across the floor.
tap tap
A delicate finger tapped rhythmically on the throne’s armrest, filling the room with a soft, reverberating sound.
The woman seated there, with milky white skin adorned with a hint of pink blush, long eyelashes, and soft amber eyes that gleamed like a serene lake, parted her soft, dewy lips.
Words that seemed reluctant to leave such a heavenly abode echoed helplessly throughout the room, “I never expected he had a Heaven-Grade Artifact within him.”
“How interesting~,” her eyes softly took a small peek towards a mark on her wrist, a fingerprint etched onto her thin, delicate wrist by a person in his last struggle.
“My Lady, please command me. I will make sure to kill him,” the kneeling figure, aware of the previous night’s battle with the son of Alisia Devereaux, felt the need to eliminate the person who had caused harm to his master.
“Heh, never thought you wanted to die this soon,” the woman said with a soft smile adorning her face, her gaze fixed on her servant who flinched hearing those words.
“Forgive me, My Lady, I never thought he was that important—” the servant, trying to apologize and understanding the threat he received from his master of being killed if he touched that young man, was interrupted.
“I meant, he will kill you, Subject,” Drishti, seated with her legs folded and chin supported by her hand, kept her gaze fixed on the facial expression of the man, which started to crumble.
After all, he was at the Peak Legendary Rank, Perfect. How could a young man without any battle experience possibly kill him, let alone with an injured body from last night’s battle?
“…” but without doubting his master, he kept his gaze fixed downward, contemplating how to heal that small mark on his master’s wrist caused by that young man.
SWISH SWISH
Several figures wearing the same dark black cloaks materialized in a knelt position in front of the throne, each expressing the same opinion as the man before them, “My Lady, please allow all of us to engage that man together.”
Each one of them was at the Peak of the Legendary Rank, and at that, Perfect.
Maybe mere seconds would be enough for them to crush someone already injured from the battle.
It may seem cowardly, but for them, cowardice is a word used by weaklings who can’t even predict their enemies in advance and tag their smartness as cowardice.
“Do you know why I wanted you to bring someone from the Sanctum?” Drishti slowly rose from her throne, tracing her fingers while rising before moving towards the things lying like rubble there, scattered on the ground.
“…Wasn’t it to get rid of that mark?” One of the men, not lifting his gaze, stated in a normal tone, understanding that the reason for calling some healers from the Sanctum was related to the removal of that mark on his master’s wrist.
“You think I can’t get rid of a small fingerprint?” With a calm smile, her eyes glanced at her wrist before turning towards those people, unaware of the reason.
“Forgive us for our short-sightedness, My Lady.” For their negligence in not understanding their master’s strength, all of them asked for apologies.
Ignoring them, Drishti’s eyes were fixed on her wrist, where, while being strangled, a young man’s grip tightened enough to crush tungsten, leaving a small mark on her body as a symbol of her defeat.
“I’ve fallen to the Middle Level of Ascendancy.”
GASP
Her sudden voice filled the room with gasps from all the figures present, and without a second thought, all of their anger surged at a visible pace, with parts of their eyes turning crimson within a moment.
It was not a small thing. Since after achieving Epic Rank, the human body reaches a point of saturation, meaning the amount of mana being dissolved and utilised stops, and rising in ranks becomes impossible.
That’s why any artifact, herbs, or technique that could expand the size of the energy core is needed to reach ranks above— This size is naturally decided upon birth.
Losing even a sub-level after Epic is not something anyone could afford.
It would be like falling a whole rank down if we compare Ascendancy and Epic, which have the difference like Immortals and Mortals.
WHOOSH
Their aura surged, evident of absolute loyalty towards their master. Losing control, one of them shouted, “My Lady, even if you kill me afterward, please let me kill hi— SPLASH.”
‘!?!’
The individual’s body turned into a blood mist before he could complete his sentence, a Legendary Perfect Rank killed instantly without even having a chance to respond.
“I don’t need brainless loyalty.”
A soft yet chilling voice resonated within the room.
Drishti’s eyes fixed on the rubble of artifacts on the ground, while the others kept theirs fixed downward, knowing how foolish they were to think they could kill someone who could go against their Master and still inflict such a wound.
“Deliver a message to him.” Slowly lifting her gaze before turning towards the black-cloaked men. With a smile, she stated, “He could choose anything present inside this room.”
