The upside-down Dawn City had caused significant damage to many buildings. Even though the Clinton Empire’s royal palace was well-constructed and had magical protections, it still suffered considerable impact.
The once magnificent palace was now in chaos. Inside and outside, many guards and attendants were busy cleaning up the scattered debris. However, compared to the outside world’s turmoil, the interior was already in much better condition.
Initially, no one had noticed Luca’s arrival, but amid the crowd, someone suddenly gasped. Before long, more and more people turned to look at him.
Their gazes were filled with a mix of emotions—shock, confusion, fear, and even gratitude.
Luca paid no attention to their stares and walked straight toward the palace hall.
Just as he was about to enter, a general from the royal guards, clad in golden armor, stepped forward.
“Count Luca, I’m not sure… what is it you intend to do…?” The general stammered, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. Although the young man before him appeared to be only a mid-tier practitioner, the pressure he exuded was more intense than even a Transcendent-level being, possibly even more than King Alfred himself.
After all, this was a being who had ascended to godhood!
“I’m here to see His Majesty the King,” Luca said calmly.
The general hesitated, clearly troubled. They had already witnessed Luca’s terrifying strength.
It was clear he was a dangerous figure, someone they couldn’t afford to let near King Alfred without caution.
“Let him in. If he had intended harm to His Majesty, he would have already made his move,” a clear voice spoke from behind them.
Luca turned around to see Winston, clad in black armor, approaching.
Behind him were several unfamiliar figures. Their attire was noble, and their appearances were somewhat unusual.
The leader among them wore a luxurious black robe embroidered with gold patterns. He had faint golden vertical pupils, and his demeanor was relaxed, almost as if he were walking casually.
An All-Beings Empire member? Luca immediately recognized their identity.
It was hard not to—after all, they wore the insignia of the All-Beings Empire, and it was obvious from the leader’s appearance that he was from the dragon race. The majority of that species lived in the All-Beings Empire.
While Luca assessed them, the noble figures from the All-Beings Empire were also cautiously observing him.
“Perhaps… we should wait before entering?” a burly man with giant bloodlines suggested carefully.
Marcel, who had initially appeared carefree, instinctively toned down his relaxed demeanor. He now looked serious and said, “I think you’re right.”
They had all witnessed Luca’s strength before—he had even fought the Goddess of Dawn with remarkable back-and-forth exchanges.
For someone like that, they thought it would be better to stay out of his way. If they angered him, he could easily swat them all down with a single gesture, leaving their diplomatic entourage stranded here. That would be a major loss.
The other nobles from the All-Beings Empire also nodded in agreement. Marcel cleared his throat and said to Winston apologetically, “Ahem, I just remembered that I left something I meant to bring to His Majesty on the flying ship. I’ll go back to get it right now. You guys go on ahead, don’t wait for me.”
With that, he waved his hand and without waiting for Winston to reply, he quickly turned and made his exit.
The burly man and the other nobles were left staring in shock. What the hell? They had agreed to go together, and now Marcel had just run off on his own.
A chorus of silent curses went through their minds as they thought about how they might slip away as well.
At that moment, Luca suddenly spoke, his voice clear and calm. “I wonder… is that Marcel of the All-Beings Empire?”
Everyone present froze in surprise. No one had expected Luca to recognize him.
Marcel also stopped in his tracks, his expression one of confusion. “Uh, you know me?”
Luca flashed a smile. “I know a bit about you.”
In truth, Luca knew far more than just a little—Marcel’s name was practically legendary. Luca had sensed his presence earlier, but he hadn’t been certain until he saw the man in person. Now, he was certain he hadn’t made a mistake.
Black Dragon King – Marcel! The one who had once single-handedly faced off against King-level monstermonsters and a horde of a million monsters, and had wiped out dozens of Transcendent-level monster lords!
He was one of the top three strongest Transcendent-level experts on the Eternal Continent!
In Luca’s past life, he had a good relationship with Marcel. On the battlefield, Luca had often received Marcel’s protection.
Unfortunately, before Luca could repay him, Marcel was killed in a joint attack by the Titan Behemoth Behemoth and the Chaos Dragon Leviathan. Even his body had been devoured by the two King-level monstermonsters. It was a shame that in this life, Marcel had returned so soon.
Noticing the way Luca was looking at him, Marcel couldn’t help but shiver.
He forced a smile and stammered, “Th-th-that’s an honor.”
Luca knew Marcel was a man who valued his life above all else.
“When you have time, let’s have some tea together,” Luca said with a shake of his head, not rushing to reminisce. He turned and walked into the palace.
With Winston’s word, the golden-armored guard general no longer blocked his way. freewёbnoνel.com
Marcel hesitated for a moment, then quickly ran back.
Although he had no idea why Luca knew him, he could clearly tell that Luca held no ill will toward him. This thought instantly made his mind more agile.
The All-Beings Empire had come to the Clinton Empire to form alliances. If he could bring someone like Luca into their camp…
As that idea crossed his mind, Marcel’s eyes lit up with hope. The future seemed brighter.
“You said you left something on the flying ship, didn’t you?” Winston shot Marcel a knowing look, his lips curling into a faint smile.
Marcel showed no sign of embarrassment after being exposed, and casually said, “I suddenly remembered the gift was in my storage ring. No need to go back after all.”
The All-Beings Empire nobles couldn’t help but twitch their mouths, feeling embarrassed to have such a master.
“Don’t say you know me,” the burly man, Krik, muttered in disgust as he gave Marcel a sidelong glance and distanced himself a bit. Winston, on the other hand, found Marcel somewhat amusing. He reminded him of someone—a person with equally thick skin.
After Luca entered the palace, he followed a maid to King Alfred’s chambers. On the way, he naturally drew a lot of attention. Some of the guards and nobles, upon seeing him, went pale in fear, wondering how this dangerous person had made his way into the palace.
Luca appeared unaffected by their gazes and soon arrived at the doors to the king’s chambers. Before he even entered, he caught a strong scent of blood and decay wafting through the air. His eyes flickered slightly.
“Your Majesty, Count Luca has arrived,” the maid announced as she entered. Moments later, Alfred’s weak voice echoed from within the room.
“Let him… in…” he rasped.
The maid respectfully acknowledged and left. Luca stepped inside the chamber, and the first thing he saw was Alfred lying on a luxurious feather-down quilt, his face a ghastly pale shade.
Compared to their last meeting, Alfred now looked even weaker. His once bright eyes were now dim and lifeless. If it weren’t for the faint signs of life still lingering, one might mistake him for a corpse.
Luca bowed politely. “Your Majesty.”
The room remained silent for a long while, before Alfred’s voice broke the stillness.
“Fratis… is she still alive?” He slowly lifted his gaze toward Luca. His cracked lips moved weakly, and his voice was hoarse and unpleasant, as though it was squeezed from his throat.
There was no anger or rage in his tone, no blame for Luca having ruined the years of planning he had laid out. He didn’t question why Luca had come, either. He simply looked weary and defeated, as if all his energy had been drained from him.
Luca nodded slightly. “The Sixth Princess is alive, though she has lost ten years of her memories. She inherited the power of the Goddess of Dawn, but it’s still uncertain if she can recover those lost memories.”
At this, Alfred paused, then a faint gleam appeared in his eyes.
“This… this is… good news…” he said, his voice weak, but then he was suddenly overtaken by a violent cough.
Luca frowned. “But Fratis’ current mental state is that of a teenager. Do you still want her to inherit the throne?”
Alfred’s coughing fit left him speechless. The maid tried to step forward to help him catch his breath, but he roughly pushed her aside. Struggling, he retrieved a black pill from his storage ring and swallowed it. Almost immediately, an unnatural flush spread across his face, and his energy seemed to surge, revitalizing him significantly.
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The maid and the guards hovered nearby, hesitant to speak but ultimately sighing in resignation.
Luca narrowed his eyes, recognizing the pill as a Superclass elixir that drained one’s life force. It was a desperate measure, allowing a person to unleash the last bit of their vitality for a short burst of power. Alfred’s life was already hanging by a thread, and taking this kind of drug would likely ensure that he wouldn’t make it through the day.
“Hahaha, what’s the problem?” Alfred seemed oblivious to the pity in the eyes of the maid and guards. He shifted his body slightly, forcing himself to sit up so he could face the young man before him directly.
Alfred laughed heartily, saying, “She is now one of only two people on the Eternal Continent with divine power. Even though her mind is still that of a teenager, the lifespan of a god spans tens of thousands of years. A hundred years is but the blink of an eye. She will eventually grow, and lead Clinton to glory!”
Luca found it hard to comprehend. “What’s the point of an empire if it’s destined to rot from within? Even if Clinton holds on with Fratis’ strength, how long can it truly last?”
“You’ve never held the throne, so you can’t understand my thoughts,” Alfred shook his head slightly, turning his gaze toward the chaos outside the window, where Dawn City was still in turmoil. His eyes gleamed with a strange light as he continued, “For example, I’ve never cared whether this kingdom will eventually fall into ruin.”
He paused, his expression distant and a bit melancholic. “What I care about is, while it exists, how glorious it can be…”