V3 Chapter 206

Demon Empire capital, Stormrage.

Located at the center of the demon land; the Southeastern part of the Continent, it served as a front line fortress in the past. The highway on either side is made with robust stones, a legacy from its days as a fortress that had repelled numerous invaders that attempted to destroy the Demon Race.

Several layers of walls are erected with the capital at its heart. Only the outermost siege wall has defensive functions, the rest is used for zonal segregation.

Its existence is a testament to the history of this city and nation.

The known strongest Empire in the entire Graunite Continent.

And in the center of the capital lies 'Dreadstorm Palace’.

The Palace has traces of its days as a fortress, ancient and majestic. Even now, the tough appearance of the fortress commands respect.

Steel and more steel as far as one could see.... the entire castle, without any exception, were a large number of grandly standing steel pillars. The entire castle was almost made of steel, with emerald colored rocks and banner made from expensive-looking carpets—bearing on it was the royal symbol of the Stormfury Royal Family; a trident with the three spikes look like horns of a demon and two long serpents coiled around it, facing from opposite sides.

If one looks at it for the very first time, they would surely think—a steel Fortress—as the first impression of it,

People like to call it—the Demon’s Lair—

The Dreadstorm Palace.

Its reputation as the 'Kingdom of Demons' is presented in full glory, allowing all people could feel the pride of the city just by looking at it. With one look, one can easily surmise the vestige of history that it watched passed by.

Around it, like massive gates protecting it, there were several small castles owned by Nobilities and the Four Grand Palaces owned by the four Royal Siblings, surrounded by walls, as well as comfortable living spaces arranged among well-kept roads that were like towns and cities.

The [Infernal Palace] of the First Prince; Lucifalion Orcanium Vorn Stormfury’s personal residence.

[Cold Moon Palace] Owned by the First Princess; Oriel Heretarium Vorn Stormfury.

[Heaven Fall Courtyard Palace], owned by the Second Demon Prince; Aanuel Heretarium Vorn Stormfury.

And lastly, the youngest of the siblings and the Second Princess that was the blood sister of the First Prince, possessing the true royal blood of the Demons; Situel Orcanium Vorn Stormfury’s [Heart-Mending Palace]

Although the Four Grand Palaces appeared majestic and grand, it still was less inferior to the main Palace of the Demon Empire; the Dreadstorm Castle, which was the biggest and tallest palace among the rest. It was extremely majestic!

In the heart of Dreadstorm Castle is an audience hall for the Empress to receive very important personnel.

It is a vast space with a high ceiling and enormous open space. Elegant drapes are hung on all the walls in a fixed interval of the pillars. A red carpet is rolled out in the center, and at its end is the throne for the Empress. An amazingly big seat is situated behind the throne, with an enormous sculpture of the Demon Empress sitting on it, looking down at everything.

It looks extremely alive and life-like. Its appearance is more elegant than any sculpture and work of art. Made entirely of pure gold, a cape with the same pattern of the national flag covers its shoulders, displaying the majesty of a Ruler of Dominion standing at the very peak. Watching its towering appearance gave off a powerful and intimidating pressure.

Sometimes, the hall will be cramped with soldiers and Demon Officials, but there are only a few people here today.

A beautiful woman was sitting lazily on the throne; the infamous and most feared Demon Empress; The Tyrant Blood Demon Empress—Sitana Mamanium Vorn Stormfury.

She appeared like a girl in her mid-teens and possessing a voluptuous and well-endowed body-figure. Seemly shining in the light, her translucent white skin gleamed palely like porcelain, and flowing golden hair and an appearance rare for female demons. A pair of beautiful bright blue eyes, delicate eyebrow, and a small mouth with red blood-colored thin lips under the nose.

She was dressed in a stylish but not gaudy dress. A white silken scarf with the emblem of the [Garden of Eden] secretly engraved at the inside, wrapped around her shoulders. Her skin was ivory pale, as perfect as milk.

In front of him are Grand Duke Lucian and the Great Demon General Gurth Dastan. According to customs, they have to address the Empress while kneeling on one knee with their heads down on a formal court. After the Demon Empress grants him permission, the Grand Duke raises his head to report.

"…That concludes the report of the battle at the Central Plain."

The Demon Empress Sitana acknowledges with a lazy nod after listening to the detailed report from her Demon General. She is holding a concise report in her hand and is browsing it as she listens. But nothing had caught her interest.

"Your majesty, please allow me to send some reinforcement to support them."

The Great Demon General asked loudly.

The Demon Empress focused on one point of the report as she listens to the two people;

“So the war remained in a standstill…For Lucifalion to not gain an upper hand despite his advantage in number, is he bidding his time, or were the Heroes from another world really that strong…?”

Sitana furrowed her brows as she looks at the sky through the enormous glass window, muttering in a soft whisper; “Hard to believe… immortals and cannot be killed… did the Gods finally began their intervention?”

“It seems so, your majesty… what is your next move?”

A voice appeared behind her.

Standing there was a girl around 18 to 19 years old. She has fair skin and a pale complexion. Her eyes are striking red rubies and she has long blonde waist-length hair with a pink ombre. Coupled with her height - tall by most standards - and her voluptuous body figure, modern people would surely associate her with a supermodel.

She stood there quietly as her silky eyelashes fluttered, with not a single bit of impurity; her eyes had a joyous expression of clear mountains and springs, yet also cold like winter solstice.

Vampire Lord, Altrusia Blood Krul.

The gentle wind lifted the corner of her skirts, bringing about simple elegance, yet the most beautiful poem of this world could not describe it. She walked over, and stop just beside the royal throne.

“The Gods are not your usual enemies, my dear Altrusia—there’s nothing to be done. Unless they made the first move, we can only sit, waiting.” Sitana said, then added in a sultry, eerily hypnotic voice, “The Heroes are their pawns, and so just like the game of chess, we will start with them.”

“But they are immortals…and the Demon Pagoda is in the hand of the Second Princess.”

“Then, we will just kill them every time they appear. They might be immortals, but they are not that powerful…”

“I don’t think the same… the First Prince having trouble, displays their threat,”

“Truly?” Sitana grinned as she looks at the Vampire Lord. She then chuckled, “My dear Altrusia, it seems like you have forgotten who Lucifalion is? Or had you been underestimating my son too much?”

“… …”

“Lucifalion is still holding his hand…as he knows that the quicker this war ends, the harder it would become for him to achieve his goals. Although I agree that the Heroes are strong and powerful, it also goes the same with Lucifalion—I think he is bidding for time. He wants this war to continue for a while longer. This is the reason why he didn’t push through desperately even though he could have… caring about the soldiers? He was never the type to care for that,”

Sitana grinned wickedly, “This is why he petitions for the [Death Temple]’s aid so that he could have a reason for the withdrawal of the army. The [Death Temple] most only uses lower undead, how could it possibly defeat the coalition army of the enemy?”

“Your Majesty, please let me go! I will surely bring back good news!”

The Great Demon General who were listening to them, immediately suggested.

Sitana thinks for a while, then suddenly as if she had made her mind, she turned towards the Great Demon General; “Suit yourself, Gurth,” she replied, however, before the Great Demon General could give his thanks, he heard Sitana’s voice again. “However, this matter can wait. The Walpurgis is close, the banquet is need of your presence,”

“At your wish, your majesty!” hearing that, the Great Demon General nodded his head, and said without hesitation. Indeed, the Walpurgis is at hand, it's the moment where he is truly needed.

Suddenly, as they continued their conversation, the guards saluted and announced the arrival of the person they were waiting for.

The door opened and several people walked in. Leading the way was a man in bright red and golden clothes. He was a dashing fellow with long red hair, down to his shoulders, and yet he was clean-shaven.

This was none other than the Infernal Prince; [Lucifalion Orcanium Vorn Stormfury]. The infamous First Prince of the Dreadstorm Empire.

He was tall, easily tapping out at maybe seven to eight-foot with oversized pair of horns protruding from his forehead, and curving backward, like that of a bull, and almost forming like that of a crown. And his face, almost so perfect. If the Second Prince was as beautiful as a girl, with a charm that makes one spoils him; the First Prince was the very definition of a true man that can make any girl attracted and swooned over.

With his height, he easily dwarfed the Second Prince, and with that intimidating aura he was exuding, he walks with the pressure of a true demon. His blood-colored eyes swept through the hall, and he possesses high cheekbones, a straight nose, and a rock-hard jaw that seemed to be always clenched in anger and ferocity.

Anyone couldn’t have imagined the animal magnetism he projected, as he walks with confidence and swagger. He appeared elegant, but the feral aura he was exuding in his every action, was like that of a wild beast, unshackled and was just waiting for an opportunity to pounce on an unknowing victim.

Tap! Tap! Tap!

Three men and four women with the air of nobility followed behind him. When Lucifalion entered the hall and met his mother’s eyes, his mouth somewhat curved into a thin smile of acknowledgment in an instant.

“Mother, I have returned,”

Lucifalion kneeled on one knee the moment he arrived near the stairs.

"Thank you for coming, my dear son. Though, I guess, it's been ages, Lucifalion. Like your younger sisters, you rarely visit this mother of yours," Sitana smiled faintly.

“Mother is the one who taught me that duty is above all, even above family,”

Lucifalion said.

“I cannot rest easy, as long as there’s an enemy that threatened the Empire.”

His voice thundered the entire hall.

Sitana smiled faintly.

“I heard stories about your exploits in the war, and it gives me overwhelming pride that you are my son—you’ve done great these past few years. With you standing in front, the people within the empire can rest easy.”

“I’m honored for your Majesty’s praise,”

“This is not the words of an Empress, Lucifalion…this This is the words of a mother to her beloved son, so you should drop the formality,” Sitana muttered with a sigh.

“…thank you, mother…”

“However, be that as it may… I heard some unsettling news all over the continent. Do you perhaps have any clues on what is going on?”

Suddenly, Sitana muttered as she picked up the glass goblet of red wine that Somelia had offered to her.

She looks down at Lucifalion with mystifying eyes, “Don’t get me wrong, I know this is not of your doing. And I am certain that this is not the Empire’s actions either, or even someone else from within the court…however, I know you know more than me in this case. So, what do you have for me, Lucifalion? This makes me worried, as you know; this greatly affects the Empire as well,”

“Indeed, this greatly troubles me as well, Mother,”

Lucifalion showed an unusual expression of annoyance and chagrin.

“How much does mother know about this?”

“Not much—but I am aware that it’s causing unrest to many countries as of this moment—including ours.”

“Indeed,”

Lucifalion clenched his fist in frustration.

This sudden chaos had affected him as well, in fact—not so little effect had it caused him.

Because of what was occurring, all his plans needed to be adjusted and he was left, unable to do advance what should have been the next step.

“This trouble can’t be medicated. I’m afraid. Nations striking nations—it’s not just a matter of Humans against us now. The entire Continent was entering total mayhem. The Beastmen is on the brink of declaring war against it’s should be ally, the Human Empire. Several Monster Kings, who should have been in seclusion, have become unsettled lately, vowing revenge against the Humans and Beastmen, as well as to us. They are not hearing our voice, and wouldn’t even lend us an ear. The Demi-humans, the Elven Kingdom, and the Barbarians in the west and the Draco-alliance, those ignorant and arrogant Dragonians of the north are joining the chaos as well, they all have swords drawn and armies rallied. I’m afraid; the slightest spark will set them off!”

Lucifalion grumbled with a dark air. His red hair gleamed brightly, seemly in flames and even his shoulder sparked. His emotions clearly displayed with raging momentum.

“… …”