Ch. 841: Chapter 841-850
Chapter 841 Tell the Agarthians, Strangers Passing By [Part 1]
Chapter 841 Tell the Agarthians, Strangers Passing By [Part 1]
'Eiko, don't attack that man with the gladiator helmet,' Lux telepathically communicated with Eiko as he flew toward Leonidas, who was busy helping his Manticore deal with the Six Manticores that the Baby Slime summoned.
The Fairy Princess, who was about to throw a meter-tall Blast Bomb at Leonidas, stiffened. However, a few seconds later, she recovered and scanned the surroundings, looking for new targets.
"Eyah!" Eiko shouted as she threw the Blast Bomb at a place where several Rankers were congregated, the sight of which made all of the battle-hardened Gladiators scream and run away like their lives depended on it.
After having a taste of Eiko's Blast Bombs, they had learned a very painful lesson.
The bigger the bomb, the more powerful it was.
Although none of those who received a direct hit died from it, they still suffered serious injuries
This forced them to distance themselves from the Baby Slime and resort to using long-range attacks to help their comrades.
Leonidas, who was the strongest among the Rankers, immediately sensed a pair of eyes locked onto his body.
The Mercenary Leader, who had commanded hundreds of men under him and fought in one of the bloodiest battles the Kingdom of Agartha, glanced in the direction where the gaze was coming from.
There, he saw the Half-Elf, who was holding a golden spear in his hand, headed in his direction.
In just a span of a few seconds, Leonidas understood that he was being singled out by one of the targets that they needed to eliminate.
Since he was stronger than Lux by a realm, he was truly sure that the red-headed teenager was only a D-Ranker.
However, Leonidas no longer had the leeway to underestimate his enemy, and he decided to face him head-on.
"Continue to support my Manticore!" Leonidas ordered. "I'll deal with this kid first. Don't worry, if I kill him, I'll give the rewards to one of you guys. You have my word."
Originally, the other Rankers wanted to target Lux as well, but after hearing Leonidas' words, they decided to continue supporting the Manticore to help it overcome the onslaught from Eiko's Manticores, who were attacking it from all directions.
Holding a spear in his hand, Leonidas roared as he charged toward Lux with the intention of going all out.
A metallic ring spread in the Coliseum when Lux's and Leonidas' weapons clashed with each other.
The two exchanged several blows, and with each blow, the Half-Elf skidded backward due to the difference in strength. Even so, the ferocity of his attacks didn't change as he continued to exchange blows with someone more powerful than him.
After their eighth clash, Leonidas backed away as he looked at the weapon in his hand.
The Blade of his Mythical-Ranked Spear was already cracked, which made him frown.
He was stronger than Lux, but the Half-Elf's weapon was better than his.
This difference allowed the Half-Elf to gain the upper hand, making Leonidas start thinking about how he would be able to deal with the Golden Spear in his opponent's hands.
At that moment, a spear embedded itself in the ground beside Leonidas.
"Take it," Michael, who was the organizer of the Battle Royale, commanded. "That is a Legendary Weapon and it has the Indestructible attribute. It's the only one of its kind here in Agartha. I will lend it to you until the match is over."
Leonidas didn't hesitate and threw the cracked spear in his hand away and grabbed the spear that belonged to a retired General of the Kingdom of Agartha.
Although Michael now only focused on organizing Gladiator Matches, he was one of the most famed Generals of the Kingdom before he decided to retire.
"Indestructible?" Lux smiled. "Perfect."
Calypso was a Divine Weapon, so only those with the power to withstand its might could face it in battle.
If the one holding it was a Supreme, then they would definitely be a force to be reckoned with.
However, in Lux's hands, it was only a very powerful weapon, whose true powers were yet to be seen.
After that brief interlude, Lux and Leonidas clashed once again, and this time, the Mercenary Leader truly showed his fighting ability.
In less than five minutes, Lux found himself being pushed back and unable to even counterattack.
'His mastery of the spear is the real deal,' Lux thought. 'His bloodlust and killing intent are also off the charts.'
The Half-Elf understood that he was clearly outmatched when it came to close combat, but he didn't back away.
Instead, he started to use his other abilities to help him stand toe to toe with Leonidas, making the C-Ranker narrow his eyes.
Bone Spikes jutted out of the ground, in an attempt to hinder Leonidas' movement.
However, as if already expecting these petty tricks, the Gladiator calmly stepped to the side and swatted them away as if they were just weeds that were blocking his path.
Suddenly, something unexpected happened.
Two Rankers suddenly appeared behind Lux with their weapons raised for the kill.
Leonidas saw this but didn't say anything, simply thrusting his spear forward in order to create a killing zone where the Half-Elf had nowhere to run.
Lux didn't even bother to look behind his back and simply thrust his spear forward in order to meet Leonidas' attack.
A distinctive metallic ring spread in the surroundings as the tip of both spears met, creating sparks that flew in every direction.
"Die Highlander!" one of the Rankers that had decided to sneak attack from behind roared.
"Your head is mine!" the last remaining Ranker shouted as he swung his sword downwards with the intention to split the Half-Elf's body in half.
At that exact moment, a cold voice filled with killing intent reached both of their ears.
"We can't have that now, can we?"
Draven, who had always been hiding inside Lux's shadow, sprang forth and clashed with one of the Rankers who had aimed to take his Master's life.
"Since you wish to die that badly, allow me to send you to the afterlife."
Diablo, who had also autonomously appeared on Lux's side, parried the other Ranker's sword, preventing it from reaching its target.
At the same time, Lux's ultimate defender, the Corpse God, materialized and lashed out at the two Rankers using the weapons in its hands.
Screams of pain and disbelief reached Leonidas' ears as his two comrades were sent flying by the five-meter-tall Corpse God, who wielded different weapons in each hand.
Diablo and Draven didn't let the two Rankers regain their footing and clashed with them as Lux continued to battle the Mercenary Leader, who had momentarily lost his momentum.
Leonidas didn't expect that his opponent was capable of summoning reinforcements out of thin air, making him wonder why Lux hadn't used them earlier to gain an upper hand against him.
Chapter 842 Tell the Agarthians, Strangers Passing By [Part 2]
Chapter 842 Tell the Agarthians, Strangers Passing By [Part 2]
"Who are you, really?" Leonidas asked as he pointed the tip of his spear toward his opponent's face.
"Lux Von Kaizer," Lux replied. "Just your friendly neighborhood Necromancer."
Leonidas narrowed his eyes after hearing his opponent's profession. Although Necromancers who fought in close combat weren't rare, he was still surprised. Lux looked so young, yet he was already this powerful.
He knew that Half-Elves had long lives and that looks could be deceiving, so in order to confirm his suspicions, he asked another question.
"How old are you, Lux?"
"Seventeen."
This time, it was the spectators' turn to be surprised.
Even the Princes and Princesses of Agartha didn't think that Lux was really young. Since Half-Elves were like Elves when it came to age, they thought that he was older.
"Is that so?" Leonidas commented after regaining his composure. "It's too bad. You're going to die so young."
Although he had to admire Lux's strength for his age, he was confident that the Half-Elf had no way of defeating him in a one-on-one battle.
Based on what happened earlier, he understood that his opponent wished to fight him alone without using any of his Undead Minions.
Necromancers fought using numerical advantage, and since Lux didn't choose that option, Leonidas was very confident about his chances of winning.
Lux didn't say anything and only smiled.
Although he had to admit that Leonidas was stronger than him, the outcome of their battle was yet to be decided.
Suddenly, the air surrounding Leonidas crackled and distorted. A moment later, the shackles that bound his arms and legs suddenly shattered.
Michael, who initially thought that Leonidas didn't need to remove his limiter in order to defeat Lux, arched an eyebrow.
During Leonidas' career as a Gladiator, he had never once removed the limiter he had placed on himself even though he had to fight very strong opponents like B-Rankers in the past.
Through sheer will and determination, he had won against these opponents. But, now, things were different.
Even Michael didn't know how strong Leonidas was once his limiters were unsealed.
It made the event organizer look at the Mercenary Leader with great anticipation as the latter thumped the rear of the spear in his hands on the ground, causing a ripple to spread throughout the entirety of the Gladiators Colosseum.
For a brief moment, all the fighting inside of it stopped as the Rankers, as well as Lux's forces, all looked at the Mercenary Leader who had taken off his Gladiator's helmet to show his face to everyone.
Long black hair and blue eyes that seemed to have seen all the hardships of the world were revealed, and he gazed at Lux steadily.
Leonidas was nearly two meters tall, and his body was covered with many scars. However, right now, he seemed to be bigger than life as his presence captivated everyone, whose eyes were now locked on his person.
"I am no Hero," Leonidas stated. "Nor have I been a good father or a husband. I have killed many, and many wanted to kill me. I have slain murderers, criminals, bandits, as well as innocents. My hands are stained with blood, and when I die, I am sure that there is a place waiting for me in hell."
Leonidas' profound words resonated within the arena, making everyone wonder what he hoped to achieve with his speech.
"Criminals is what they call us, and here in the Gladiators Arena, everyone wishes to see us fight a Death Match with each other," Leonidas declared. "But today is no ordinary day. My spearpoint doesn't point towards the heart of a fellow Agarthian. Today, I fight not for myself, but for the glory of our entire kingdom."
The Mercenary Leader then pointed his spear toward Lux, who was listening to his speech with a solemn expression on his face.
"My win is Agartha's win," Leonidas stated. "My loss is Agartha's loss."
Leonidas paused for a bit before continuing the rest of his words.
"300 Gladiators versus two people and a mischievous fairy, and yet, the easy fight that everyone envisioned is nowhere to be seen."
A pin-drop silence descended upon the Gladiator's Arena for everyone was starting to realize what Leonidas was talking about.
"Brothers and sisters, will you entrust your lives to me?" Leonidas asked the Rankers, who were still present in the arena.
Out of the 300 Gladiators, around 250 remained.
Leonidas knew that if the battle were to extend longer, these numbers would continue to dwindle, so he decided to activate his unique ability in order to finally end the battle and save the rest of his comrades from dying.
"Yes!" one of the Rankers shouted. "We are with you, Leonidas!"
As if a spark had been lit, the other Rankers shouted to acknowledge his words.
"Then entrust your life to me," Leonidas stated. "Let us fight as one!"
When he finished talking, several beams of light shot out from Leonidas' body and landed on the Rankers who had decided to entrust their lives to him.
These Rankers then all turned into particles of light, gathering around Leonidas, drastically increasing his strength.
C-Ranker.
B-Ranker.
A-Ranker.
S-Ranker.
In one fell swoop, Leonidas' strength had increased by leaps and Although very powerful, this skill had a limitation.
He couldn't absorb the strength of people past 300, for that was the bounds, surprising the Half-Elf, as well as the spectators in the arena.
Leonidas' Unique Ability was called Power Assimilation.
This ability allowed him to temporarily absorb the powers of everyone that had agreed to fight alongside him, giving him a tenth of their total Stat Points.
Because of this, his Rank surged up to that of a High-Ranker.
Although very powerful, this skill had a limitation.
He couldn't absorb the strength of people past 300, for that was the maximum limit of his skill.
Also, this ability would only last for fifteen minutes, and after that, Leonidas, as well as those whom he had temporarily housed inside his body, would not even be able to lift a finger afterward, making them completely vulnerable.
Simply put, this was an all-out ability.
A skill that must only be used as a Last Resort.
Leonidas had deemed that, in order to defeat Lux, Gaap, as well as Eiko, he needed to gain the strength that would overcome sheer numbers and cut through their army like a hot knife through butter.
"If you have any other tricks up your sleeve, it's time to use them now, boy," Leonidas stated as he took a step forward, causing the ground under his feet to shatter from the overwhelming power radiating off of his body.
"Very well," Lux replied. "I didn't intend to use it here, but since you've already decided to go all out, then I will go all out as well."
The Half-Elf no longer held back and summoned the entirety of his Undead Legion, as well as the Members of his Covenant.
"You're not the only one with that kind of ability," Lux stated. "I also have that."
The Half-Elf then opened the Draconic Wings behind his back and flew upwards.
"Come," Lux ordered as a Gigantic silhouette appeared behind him.
"Deus Gigantia [Epic]!"
A faint chuckle echoed in the surroundings as a Gigantic Skeleton King that was nearly a hundred meters tall appeared inside the arena.
Lux then merged with the blue crystal on its chest, allowing him to take full control of the Unique Skill that he had personally created before becoming a Heaven's Necromancer.
One by one, his Undead Summons, numbered in the thousands, all rose from the ground and merged with the Skeleton King, boosting its strength further.
"Tell the Agarthians, strangers passing by," the Skeleton King spoke as he raised his hand summoning a giant Spear of Longinus, which he held firmly in his hand. "That here, obedient to their laws…
You…
Will…
Die."
Chapter 843 The Power Of Faith [Part 1]
Lux's Deus Gigantia had two forms.
The first form was its regular form, where he would summon a Skeleton King that would always be a Rank Higher than him and would always be a World Boss Monster.
Currently, Lux was a D-Ranker, so when he summoned Deus Gigantia, a Skeleton King with the rank of a Dreadnaught-Ranked World Boss, would appear.
But that was only its basic form.
Deus Gigantia's second form would allow all of Lux's Undead Legion, Named Creatures, as well as members of his Covenant to merge with the Skeleton King, absorbing 20% of all of their Maximum Stat Points. Compared to Leonidas' Unique Skill, Power Assimilation, this was no doubt the better skill.
However, this skill had its drawbacks.
Once Lux had used this skill, he wouldn't be able to summon his Undead Legion and Named Creatures, except for the members of his Covenant, to aid him in battle for an entire day.
He would also not be able to use Deus Gigantia for that same amount of time.
Simply put, this was an all-out attack, combining all of Lux's forces into one powerful creature that could even transcend the might of a Supreme once the Half-Elf became a Saint.
Leonidas looked up at the Gigantic Behemoth in front of him, which was wielding a giant spear in its hand.
When he told Lux to use any remaining tricks he had in order to fight him, he didn't expect the Half-Elf to be able to summon a Giant Skeleton King, whose current Rank was in the middle stages of the Empyrean Rank.
Not to mention, the monster was a World Boss, which meant that it was strong enough to take on a group of several High-Rankers before getting defeated.
Despite being faced with such an opponent, the Mercenary leader firmly held his ground.
He then raised the spear that was given to him by the event's organizer and pointed it at the Monster before him.
"Brothers and sisters, tonight, we dine in Hell!" Leonidas declared with a fearless smile on his face.
He had faced death many times already, and this would just be one of those moments where he once again bets with his life and the life of others, putting everything on the line for the sake of a miracle.
The spirits of the Rankers who were also with him roared in agreement, for they understood that their chances of defeating such a beast were very slim.
Even so, just like Leonidas, all of them held firm and faced the Skeleton King with determination.
The Mercenary Leader's body then glowed gold, as his hair fluttered from the powerful aura that he was releasing.
He gripped the Legendary spear in his hand and assumed a fighting stance, preparing to unleash one powerful attack that would smite the foe in front of him.
Lux, who was commanding Deus Gigantia, also took a fighting stance and pointed the gigantic tip of the Spear of Longinus at the Mercenary Leader.
The Half-Elf was very impressed by Leonidas' unwavering determination even in the face of his most powerful ability.
"Brace!" Leonidas shouted, and several round shields appeared around him, forming the Phalanx Formation.
250 shields stood firm behind Leonidas, and all of them glowed golden with immense power.
The maximum limit of his skill was absorbing 300 people. However, only 250 Rankers remained, which made his formation fall short of its maximum potential.
Even so, Leonidas wasn't bothered and simply pointed his spear towards the blue crystal on the Skeleton King's chest, where Lux was currently located.
The Mercenary Leader's show of courage had touched the hearts of Agarthians who were watching the battle, and before they knew it, all of them started to cheer for the Gladiator, who was an Agarthian, just like them!
"""Fight!"""
"""Fight!"""
"""Fight!"""
"""Fight!"""
Just like the beating of a war drum and the battle cries of countless warriors, the Agarthians all stood as one against a common foe.
It didn't matter if Leonidas was a criminal.
It didn't matter what he had done in the past.
For this moment in time, he was just like them, an Agarthian.
His Win was their Win.I think you should take a look at
His Loss was their Loss.
Lux, whose senses had been heightened after becoming a Heaven's Necromancer, noticed faint tendrils of white light flying towards Leonidas from the spectator's seats.
'The power of Faith,' Lux thought as his expression turned solemn.
The power of Faith was also the power that gave birth to the Gods.
Normal people wouldn't be able to see them, but those who did understand how powerful Faith could be.
It was the power that helped manifest miracles, and right now, Lux could tell with his eyes blessed by Heaven that Leonidas' power was steadily rising at a rapid rate.
Countless prayers and wishes of the Agarthians all merged into Leonidas' body, granting him unimaginable strength, which he hadn't felt before.
Leonidas, who suddenly noticed the changes in his body was surprised, but deep in his heart, he had an idea of what was happening.
For that was the nature of his power.
Power that grew stronger the more others placed their complete and unwavering trust in him.
As the Mercenary Leader's strength continued to soar, the 250 Golden Shields behind him also glowed brighter.
'Do not be afraid, young one.'
The Skeleton King spoke directly inside Lux's head.
'He's not the only one who has the power of Faith,' the Skeleton King said through telepathy. 'You also have it in you. The Undead may not have hearts, and you will not be able to hear their heartbeats, but they are very much alive. Feel them with your heart, hear them with your soul, and tap into the power that became exclusively yours after your Rebirth.'
After hearing the Skeleton King's words, Lux felt like he was enlightened.
A moment later, he sensed it.
Diablo's, Ishtar's, Pazuzu's, Orions, Asmodeus', Lazarus' wishes…
All of the members of his Covenant's determination…
And his Undead Legion's unwavering loyalty…
They were the creatures who would always be on his side, even if the entire world became his enemy.
His steadfast allies through thick and thin.
Warriors who would fight on the front lines for his sake, and sing his songs of glory.
Calypso, who had taken the form of the Spear of Longinus hummed, and the sound of an angelic hymn spread across the Gladiator Coliseum.
The Agarthians were countless, and the power of their Faith was strong.
Lux's Undead Legion was nothing compared to them, but that didn't matter.
Even if he were against the entire world, he would never be alone!
"Together!" Lux declared as his green eyes turned gold, gathering the power of Faith from his companions who were fighting alongside him.
Leonidas, who had also gathered the power he needed, also roared as he prepared to unleash his strongest attack.
"Devastate!" Leonidas roared. "Son of Hercules!"
"Pierce the Void!" Lux shouted. "Spear of Longinus!"
The Giant Skeleton King thrust the Divine Spear towards the Mercenary Leader, and Leonidas, in turn, thrust upwards, meeting the attack head-on.
A clash of Will.
A clash of Faith.
And with it, a battle that would be remembered in the Kingdom of Agartha for centuries to come rocked the entirety of the Gladiator Coliseum to its very core.
Chapter 844 The Power Of Faith [Part 2]
"Devastate!" Leonidas bellowed. "Son of Hercules!"
"Pierce the Void!" Lux shouted. "Spear of Longinus!"
Two powerful attacks clashed with each other, creating an ear-piercing screeching noise that nearly made everyone in the coliseum cover their ears.
The ground under Leonidas' feet shattered, and blood flowed from the corner of his lips. But he held firm and gazed steadily at the giant spear point that threatened to erase his very existence.
The only thing that prevented that from happening was the indestructible spear in his hand, which held firm despite the fact that the weapon it was fighting against was countless times bigger than it.
Suddenly, the loud sound of something breaking reached Leonidas' ears.
Behind his back, he heard one of the Golden Shields shatter, and it was soon followed by another.
A few seconds later, three more shields exploded into a shower of lights. These light particles flew towards Leonidas as if passing their wishes to him.
Ten seconds later, twenty more shields exploded.
At that exact moment, a blood mist erupted on Leonidas' right side.
Blood had come out from the pores of his body as if it was being squeezed from the inside of his body.
It was painful, but Leonidas paid it no heed and stood his ground, despite dealing with a force so strong that the ground under his feet was breaking, creating an ever-expanding crater as the Mercenary Leader held on with everything he had.
The Golden Shields behind his back had now turned blood red, and three to five of them exploded with each passing second.
Even so, with every shield that exploded, the lights on the remaining shields became brighter, until they had become nearly blinding.
The aura around Leonidas' body had now also turned crimson, reflecting the blood that was oozing out from nearly every pore of his body.
250 Shields.
238 Shields.
194 Shields.
135 Shields.
99 Shields.
77 Shields.
69 Shields.
41 Shields.
28 Shields.
13 Shields.
4 Shields.
1 Shield.
The last remaining shield behind Leonidas' back cracked ever-so-slowly as it reached its limit.
This was also the moment that Leonidas was waiting for.
The moment the last shield broke, he would also unleash his strongest attack.
When the shield behind his back finally broke, Leonidas' eyes that were glowing crimson shone even brighter.
"Defy the Heavens!" Leonidas roared. "Battle of Thermopylae!"
Suddenly, the spear in the Mercenary Leader's hand slowly pushed back the Spear of Longinus.
Leonidas took a step forward as if he was stepping on a stair, slowly but surely gaining momentum as he pushed back the Giant Spear that had turned him into a bloody mess.
The Agarthians watched with bated breath as they saw countless Ethereal Warriors pushing Leonidas back, prompting him forward.
With each step the Mercenary Leader took, Ethereal Warriors, holding shields, knelt and created a platform that he could walk upon, bearing the weight of the man who was now fighting while the embers of his life blazed until they were extinguished.
Suddenly, from within the crowd, a young man stood up and shouted with all of his might.
"Leonidas! Go!"
This shout spread far and wide within the Coliseum, pulling everyone out of their daze.I think you should take a look at
Soon, countless shouts permeated the entirety of the arena as countless Agarthians poured out their hearts, passionately calling out the name of the man that defied all expectations.
"Don't lose! Leonidas! Beat him!"
"You can do it! Go!"
"Fight! Don't lose hope!"
"""Leonidas!"""
"""Leonidas!"""
"""Leonidas!"""
"""Leonidas!"""
Cheers once again erupted, and with it, Leonidas took one painful step at a time, rising higher and higher, pushing the giant spear back as he continued to walk toward the blue jewel in the Skeleton King's Chest, where his foe currently stood.
The current Leonidas was soaked with his own blood from head to toe, and he could no longer see what was in front of him.
However, the hands that were pushing his back, and the shouts from the people who were cheering for him edged him forward.
Even King Septimius, who was seated in the highest seat of honor, had his fists clenched, while silently urging the Mercenary Leader in his heart to create a miracle.
After what felt like Eternity, Leonidas had breached the insurmountable gap and was only a few meters away from the blue crystal.
Lux, who was inside it, watched the amazing man, who had defied all odds in order to reach him.
When the Mercenary Leader had reached the waist of the Giant Skeleton King, Lux had ceased his attack, for he knew that Leonidas could no longer bear the strength of his Divine Weapon.
As someone who had defied the Heavens and had become the Progenitor of a Sacred Class, he wanted to see the power of Faith manifest itself in front of him.
For Leonidas to successfully push the Spear of Longinus back until he reached the waist area of the Giant Skeleton King, the Half-Elf was thoroughly impressed by his tenacity.
A few minutes later, a faint clinking sound reached everyone's ears.
The Coliseum was so silent that even the smallest of sounds could be heard.
"Did I… reach… you?" Leonidas asked hoarsely.
"Yes," Lux replied with a tone filled with admiration. "You reached me."
The tip of Leonidas' spear had finally touched the blue jewel on the Skeleton's Chest, but there was no longer any strength behind it.
The sound earlier was like the sound of two wine glasses clinking each other, which was shared between two old friends that hadn't seen each other for a long time.
A faint smile appeared on Leonidas' blood-soaked lips as all the strength in his body disappeared like it finally gave up on him.
He had done what he was supposed to do, and now… he could finally rest.
"I'll… reserve a place… for you… in Hell," Leonidas said softly. "Make sure… to bring… good wine… for me."
"Hell can wait for a bit," Lux replied. "I still have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep."
The Ethereal Warriors who had helped Leonidas reach his destination all disappeared, and with them, the Mercenary Leader fell from the sky.
However, his body didn't even touch the ground, for a certain Black Coffin caught him cautiously as if he was something very precious.
It would be a waste for such a courageous man to disappear from this world completely.
Even if the Gods allowed it…
Blackfire wouldn't allow it!
Lux smiled at the Black Coffin, who had started to greedily swallow the remaining 250 Rankers that had materialized in the arena after Leonidas fell from the sky.
Michael, who was the organizer of the event, tried to stop it because the Rankers were still alive and only half-dead. After such an amazing match, he decided that he would plead with the King of Agartha to spare them and let them continue to fight as Gladiators.
However, the Black Coffin wouldn't allow anyone to stop it, so it smacked Michael and sent him flying in the opposite direction of the arena.
It then released several black tendril-like tentacles from its body, which attached themselves to all the Rankers who were lying helplessly on the ground, unable to do anything.
Blackfire then pulled all of the Rankers inside of it before disappearing completely.
That was how the Death Match between the 300 Gladiators and Lux ended, making it the most memorable Gladiator Battle in Agartha, which would be remembered for years to come.
Chapter 845 Aftermath Of The Battle
When Blackfire disappeared from the arena, all the Agarthians looked at the Giant Skeleton King, who stood tall and proud above them.
"Are you not entertained?" the Skeleton King asked, spreading its arms wide as if challenging anyone who would say otherwise.
However, someone did reply to its inquiry, and it came from the highest seat of honor in the Gladiator's Coliseum. The one who ruled over Agartha, and held complete control of this ancient Kingdom, King Septimius.
"We are entertained."
King Septimius looked at the Giant Skeleton King, and the latter looked down on the King of Agartha due to its height.
"Good," the Skeleton King replied.
A moment later, it turned into particles of light, leaving Lux in the sky, floating with his Draconic Wings spread wide.
The Half-Elf then slowly descended to the ground with a calm expression on his face. However, this was only a facade.
He was drained of his energy, and if it were not for the fact that he had to keep appearances, he might have laid down on the ground to sleep.
The members of his Covenant, whom he had called to help him, had also materialized on the ground beside him.
Bedivere, Zagan, ALL-MITE, Garret, and King Leoric.
Since they were part of Lux's Covenant, they could still fight alongside the Half-Elf, who could no longer summon the rest of his Undead Army for an entire day.
Bedivere and Garret, who were stationed in Leaf Village and Lux's Guild Headquarters most of the time, were quite surprised when they were summoned.
However, after witnessing the extraordinary battle for themselves, they were quite excited to welcome Leonidas as their comrade.
Currently, the Mercenary Leader and the other Gladiators were inside Blackfire.
As to when they would make their appearance, only the Black Coffin knew.
"Have we earned our freedom to go on an adventure in your mighty Kingdom, Your Majesty?" Gaap asked with a smile. "Or will you go back on your word and silence us, like what you did to the other Highlanders that had come before us?"
King Septimius snorted after hearing Gaap's taunt.
"Although the outcome is truly unexpected, my word remains the same," King Septimius replied. "You and Lux have earned the right to travel our lands unhindered. You will also be escorted by the Saintess Cleo, who will bear my decree.
"A decree that no one who calls themselves Agarthian will come to trouble you, unless they are bandits and criminals who don't recognize the law. If you are to meet these people, feel free to handle them as you see fit. For they are not my people and not bound by the laws of my kingdom."
Gaap nodded. "Ah, before I forget, you said that we can also visit Misfortune's Beloved in the Pantheon of Exile. Is that promise still in effect?"
"I already said it earlier, Halfling," King Septimius stated. "Do not make me repeat myself."
"My apologies, Your Majesty." Gaap bowed respectfully.
The Halfling's plan was to let the citizens of Agartha know why they had come to their Kingdom.
If everyone were to find out that they were here to visit the Misfortune's Beloved, they would pay extra attention to their journey, which would serve as an added layer of protection should King Septimius choose to go back on his word.
Lux, who had remained silent a moment ago, raised his right fist high up in the air for everyone to see.
"Today, I have witnessed the sheer strength and willpower of Agarthians," Lux shouted. "If all of you here today have a tenth of Leonidas' courage and determination, I believe that the Kingdom of Agartha would prosper forevermore.
"Know that even above in the Surface World, very few people have the same courage that he has displayed here today. If there is anyone here who is just like Leonidas, feel free to join my Guild. I am recruiting strong people like you!"
The corner of Gaap's and King Septimius' lips twitched after hearing Lux's shameless advertisement.
Clearly, the Half-Elf wanted to take advantage of the situation and get able-bodied warriors, who would fight alongside him.
Before the Half-Elf could continue his shameless act, King Septimius cleared his throat, catching everyone's attention.
"Before you wander our Ancient Domain, I invite the two of you to participate in the Birthday Celebration of my youngest daughter, Princess Shayna, which will take place in two days' time," King Septimius stated. "Also, you don't have the right to refuse my invitation, for that will mean disrespect to me and my kingdom."
Lux and Gaap glanced at each other and nodded their heads. Although the Half-Elf wanted to go to the Pantheon of Exile in order to see Aurora as soon as possible, he deemed that forming a good relationship with the current King was also important.
After all, King Septimius was still Aurora's father.
King Septimius then stood up and raised his hand, addressing his citizens.
"Today, we have witnessed a great battle of the wills," King Septimius stated. "The event has now ended, and all of you are free to spread the news of what happened here today. Also, if you happen to meet our two guests during their journey, feel free to show them how we treat our guests."
The corner of King Septimius' lips rose because he believed that after this day, Lux's fame would spread across his kingdom.
Naturally, this would also cause problems for the Half-Elf, and he was very keen to see what kind of trouble he would find himself in as he journeyed through the Ancient Kingdom, which had stood tall since time immemorial.
As if taking their King's words as a sign, all the spectators applauded the victors of the Gladiator Match.
Although they felt bad about Leonidas' loss, it didn't change the fact that the battle made their blood boil due to how awesome it was.
Of course, there were a lot of spectators who were looking at the Half-Elf in a new light, and some of them were thinking about forming connections with him in order to take advantage of his newfound popularity in Agartha.
'Although the King looks amiable right now, don't trust him too much, okay?' Gaap cautioned Lux through their Guild Chat. 'We don't know anything about this hospitality thing that he mentioned just now, so make sure to keep your guard up during the Princess' Birthday Celebration.'
'Understood, Master,' Lux replied. 'I'll make sure to pay attention to my surroundings.'
Now that they had cleared their first obstacle in Agartha, the two decided to stay for a while and join the festivities.
They were unaware that in one of the VIP Rooms of the Coliseum, Princess Shayna was looking at them with a sweet smile on their face.
'He's a good person,' Princess Shayna thought as she looked at the Half-Elf who had come to Agartha to meet her Elder Sister, Aurora. 'I hope I can talk to him during the party.'
The Youngest Princess of Agartha left her room with a smile on her face. She came to the Coliseum to see Lux, and what she had seen would remain in her memory and heart forever.
Chapter 846 A Day In The City Of Shambala
A day after the death match in the Gladiator's Arena, Lux and Gaap toured the Capital City of Shambala, escorted by Saintess Cleo.
After Lux's win, the Saintess reluctantly honored the bet she had with Lux, which was to serve him for an entire year if he won.
Since the King of Agartha had already made a decree about it, and it was even announced in the Gladiator's Coliseum, the beautiful Saintess could only follow through the motions and accompany the Half-Elf and the Halfling on their journey.
Lux, on the other hand, didn't make fun of the Saintess, not even insisting that she call him Daddy. For this, Cleo was truly grateful because she wouldn't be able to raise her head again if she were to call Lux, Daddy, in public.
"How do you like one of Agartha's specialty dishes?" Cleo asked after Lux tasted a dish that almost everyone in Agartha cooked in their homes.
"This is the first time I've eaten fried Scorpions," Lux replied. "It's tastier than I thought."
"I know, right?" Cleo smiled. "The scorpions in Agartha are not poisonous. Their stings might be very painful, but you won't have to worry about dying."
Gaap, who wasn't very picky with food, also found the fried scorpions to his liking. He even wanted to eat them on a regular basis.
Fortunately, it was a very common dish in Agartha, and almost all taverns and eating establishments had them.
The City of Shambala was very big, making it impossible to be toured in a day or two. However, what surprised Lux during their tour was that there was an Adventurer's Guild present inside the city.
According to Cleo, the Adventurer's Guild originated in Agartha and spread out in the Surface World.
However, the Guild Grandmaster of the widespread organization in the world refused to allow the King of Agartha to use it for his political means.
Their stance was to be neutral from the get-go, and it had remained that way since the Adventurer's Guild was founded.
After their meal ended, the three of them rested, drinking some tea as they did.
Lux thought that this was the perfect time to chat with the Saintess, so he decided to take the initiative and ask the question that was on his mind.
"Miss Cleo, what can you tell me about the youngest princess of Agartha, Princess Shayna?" Lux asked.
He had stopped calling Cleo, Her Excellency, because the latter said that it sounded so formal, and she insisted that Lux just call her Cleo.
However, Lux felt that doing so would be disrespecting her, so he insisted on adding Miss whenever he referred to her.
"Princess Shayna?" Cleo smiled before putting her teacup on top of the table. "I don't know much about her because she rarely appears in public. All I know is that among the royal children, she is the closest to Aurora…"
Suddenly the body of the Saint stiffened as if she had come to a realization.
"I see. So that's why," Cleo muttered.
A minute of silence passed before the Saintess once again talked. "I think the reason why the Princess rarely made her appearance is because she had been affected by the curse of Misfortune's Beloved.
"I'm sure that the King has used his authority to keep her inside the Royal Palace instead of going to the Azmarin Monastery. She might be wearing protective charms right now to keep the bad luck away. But to ensure that she doesn't affect others with her bad luck, she might have been kept under house arrest."
Lux felt sorry for Aurora's sister, whom Cleo said had been very close to her.
"Don't worry," Gaap commented from the side. "The Royal Family of Agartha must have some kind of special protection from the Gods. Even if Princess Shayna is cursed with bad luck, its effect isn't as bad as you might be imagining. The King wouldn't have invited us to her birthday celebration otherwise."
Cleo nodded in agreement. Since the King of Agartha had invited Lux and Gaap to Princess Shayna's birthday, there was no need to worry about getting affected by bad luck.
After a short break, the three of them continued touring the city.
Everywhere they went, people would stare at Lux and Gaap as if they were popular idols that were taking a stroll in their city.
Naturally, these Agarthians had already heard about what had transpired in the Gladiator's Coliseum through their peers, and their impressions of the Highlanders had changed since then.
"You're like celebrities now," Cleo commented as she looked at the two Highlanders, who were walking side by side.
"It's not our fault we were born handsome," Lux replied. "Isn't that right, Master?"
"Yes." Gaap nodded. "Being handsome is a sin."
Hearing that, the corner of the Saintess' lips twitched, and she weirdly looked at the shameless Master and Disciple pair, who were actually feeling quite smug about the attention they were getting.
When they neared the center of the city, Lux saw a Bazaar, and his interest was immediately piqued.
'I should get a souvenir for Grandma, Iris, and Cai,' Lux thought as he walked towards one of the stalls in order to check what they were selling.
Out of habit, he summoned his Soul Book and used its appraisal skill to check the things that were on sale.
To the Half-Elf's surprise, nearly half of the items that were being sold in the stall that he went to had Abilities in them. Although not all of these abilities were good, the fact that they were there made the Half-Elf think of something good.
"Sir, how much is this bracelet?" Lux asked.
He was holding a black bracelet that had the skill, Calm Mind, which allowed those who wear it to have a significant boost in their mental resistance.
"Ah, you have good eyes, young man," the merchant replied. "That bracelet is made from the skin of the Black Crocodiles that are hunted from the Kyle River. Since you are one of my first customers of the day, you can have it for a very low price of 500 gold coins."
"500 Gold Coins for this trinket?" Cleo asked with a frown. "At most, this will only cost 50 gold coins. You even have dozens of them, so they're not supposed to be that expensive."
"My Lady, even though I have dozens of them, I guarantee that they are made from the highest quality materials," the Merchant insisted. "Also, those Black Crocodiles are all Deimos Ranked Beasts. Not everyone is able to hunt them down."
Cleo was about to argue once again, but before she could do that, Lux stepped in and smiled at the merchant.
"How about this earring?" Lux asked.
This Earring was a bit special because it had the ability, Light as a Feather.
As the name suggested, it was as light as a feather, which would be a very interesting ability to imbue to something that usually weighed more than a ton.
"That one is priced at 300 Gold Coins, but I will give you a big discount and only sell it to you for 100 Gold Coins," the Merchant replied.
"Deal," Lux replied before picking up another accessory from the stall.
Now that he no longer worried about money, he could now finally use his skill Transmutation [EX], to its fullest potential.
'Hahaha! What a sucker!' the Merchant laughed in his heart. 'Are all Highlanders this stupid? He should have listened to that beautiful lady beside him. It looks like I'll make a lot of profit today!'
Cleo looked at Lux as if he was a country bumpkin that was shopping for the first time in the city.
The Half-Elf didn't even bother bargaining for the price of the things he bought and simply bought them at their market price.
The Merchants who saw this thought that Highlanders were suckers and had plenty of money, so they opened up their wares to Lux and even gave him "bulk discounts" for the items that he was purchasing.
What these merchants didn't know was that Lux was having the last laugh.
If coughing up a few hundred gold coins was enough to acquire rare abilities that he could transmute to his equipment, then he would gladly do so.
After all, Legendary-ranked equipment and above were considered "Priceless," and if a price tag were to be attached to any of them, it would easily reach millions of gold coins, which was a far cry to the thousands of gold coins that Lux had spent in shopping for the rarest abilities that were available in the Bazaar of Shambala.
Chapter 847 I Have Some Good News For You
"M-Master, I feel strange."
"It's fine, Calypso. Just accept it. You will feel better soon."
"Uh…. Nnng… It's so… hard… mmm! I-I can't… ngh!"
Calypso's body shuddered as Lux's hand held onto her. It had been only a few minutes since they started, but she was already at her limit.
"Just endure it for a while," Lux said. "Here is another serving, take it."
"Hah… Ngh! So hot!" Calypso's voice trembled as she did her best to endure the hot feeling that was washing over her body.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration that this was the first time that she had ever felt something like this in her life, especially after being reborn as a Living Armor and a Divine Weapon that served under Lux.
"Let's take a short break," Lux stated as he wiped away the beads of sweat that had formed on his forehead. "You've done well, Calypso."
The Half-Elf's hand lightly caressed the handle of the Divine Spear, making the latter tremble once again.
After his successful shopping trip in the Bazaar of Shambala, he started adding several new abilities to his Divine Weapon using his Transmutation [EX] skill, making Calypso more powerful.
The abilities that the Half-Elf had imparted to the Spear of Longinus were, Auto-Repair, Double Pierce, Acceleration, Precision, Weakness Point, Cross Poison, Deadly Strike, Lightning Strike, Spear Drill, and Gale Force.
These skills were meant to make the Spear of Longinus hit harder, faster, and inflict status ailments on those that were hit by it.
The Half-Elf still had many other trinkets with abilities, which he bought earlier, but he didn't intend to put all of them in the Spear of Longinus.
Abilities like "Light as a Feather" were redundant to use because the spear already had the perfect weight in Lux's hands. There were many skills that were useless for Calypso but would be very useful for other weapons.
For example, Lux intended to look for the heaviest weapon that he could find in Agartha.
A weapon that would weigh several tons. Once he found it, he'd transmute the skill Light as a Feather to it. He was planning to give this weapon to one of his subordinates, allowing them to wield a weapon that would take the enemy by surprise.
Truth be told, he wanted to give Eiko a weapon, but when he told this to the Baby Slime, the latter only shook her head.
For Eiko, the only weapon she needed was her Bombs, and that was more than enough to make her enemies go Boom!
"Are you done, Lux?" Gaap asked as he knocked on the door of Lux's room.
"Yes, Master," Lux replied before telling Calypso that they would continue their Transmutation Session later this evening.
This made the Spear of Longinus sigh in relief because she didn't know what would happen to her if her Master decided to start round two in her current state. Right now, her body was so sensitive, and receiving more stimulation might just break her mind.
Of course, Lux didn't know this. He unsummoned the Divine Weapon before opening the door to let his Master inside the room.
"Are you done with information gathering, Master?" Lux inquired as he offered Gaap a mug of water.
"Well, you can say that," Gaap replied as he accepted the mug that was given to him. "According to the information I gathered, the Pantheon of Exile is a week's travel from the capital if we are able to use the City's Teleportation Gate.
"If we don't use the Teleportation Gate, it will take us two weeks to reach our destination. Also, there are several waypoints that we need to pass through, and all of them are heavily guarded."
Lux arched an eyebrow after hearing his Master's report. He thought that the Pantheon of Exile was just a place for those who had been exiled from the Kingdom of Agartha, but this was only an assumption that he had made.
"Is the Pantheon of Exile some kind of Prison?" Lux asked.
"Not exactly, but it also serves that purpose," Gaap answered. "According to the information I gathered, several powerful beings and creatures that could potentially threaten Agartha were kept in there as well.
"The waypoints are actually strongholds that serve as lines of defense in order to prevent any of those creatures from passing through the borders of Agartha."
Lux pondered a bit after hearing his Master's explanation.
If those who were sent to the Pantheon of Exile were truly beings that could threaten the peace and stability of the ancient kingdom, wouldn't that mean that it was a very dangerous place to visit?
"I'm very curious about what kind of beings have been sent there. Do you have any idea, Master?"
"No. Actually, I am very curious as well. It is possible that there might be some High-Ranking Nobility from the Abyss there, like the one that was sealed inside the Sacred Dungeon."
"Noble Abyssals," Lux muttered. "Those guys are a pain."
The one that Gaap had caught in the Sacred Dungeon was a High-Ranking Abyssal Noble, and after interrogating its soul, he had confirmed that it was a Duke-Ranked Abyssal Noble whose power had regressed after being sealed for hundreds of years.
In fact, that Abyssal Creature was so strong that it had been sealed inside the Domain of the Fallen, yet it only regressed in power instead of being eradicated completely.
"On another note, I have a feeling that the King of Agartha is scheming something against us," Gaap said. "My gut instinct is telling me that he might use underhanded methods in order to prevent us from reaching the Pantheon of Exile."
"There's really nothing we can do but face his scheme head-on, Master," Lux replied. "I'm pretty sure that he won't underestimate us again after what happened in the Gladiator's Coliseum."
Gaap chuckled because this was very true.
The organizer of the event, Michael, had come to them to talk in private, demanding the release of Leonidas, as well as the other Gladiators that Blackfire had captured during the Deathmatch.
Of course, he also promised to give them bountiful compensation, but the Half-Elf flatly rejected his offer.
There was simply no way that Lux would return such promising individuals, even if he were to be offered millions of gold coins.
The Half-Elf no longer had any issue with money, and at the moment, what he lacked was manpower. The 300 Gladiators and the Mercenary Leader were much more than their weight in gold, and he had no plans to give them back no matter what.
ραΠdαsΝοvel Besides, he had a feeling that even if he ordered Blackfire to return them, the Black Coffin would refuse his order.
"By the way, I have some good news for you," Gaap said with a mischievous smile on his face. "After your advertisement in the Gladiator's Coliseum, there have been people asking about how to join your Guild. Are you really sure that you want to invite Agarthians to Heaven's Gate? Do you not plan to keep it a secret anymore?"
Lux smiled because he understood his Master's worries.
"Master, rest assured, I have already thought about this carefully," Lux replied. "Agartha is located deep under the ground, and it would nearly be impossible for any news from it to reach the Surface World.
"I even dare say that Agartha is the perfect place to recruit Guild Members. Even if they spread the news of my Guild being a Mythical Guild, nothing bad will come out of it. In fact, it will be good publicity! We can also use the benefit of being able to visit the Surface World as bait to tempt powerful individuals who have already seen everything there is to see in Agartha."
Gaap pondered a bit after hearing Lux's reply, and he had to admit that this was indeed a good idea.
His only worry was how the King of Agartha would react after knowing that Lux was the Guildmaster of the Mythical Guild, whose name had even reached one of the most ancient kingdoms in the world.
Chapter 848 Perhaps This Is Also The Whims Of Fate
"Master, how do I look?" Lux asked as he showed Gaap the ceremonial dress, which was given to him by Saintess Cleo, to be worn for tonight's festivities.
"You look good," Gaap replied with a smile. "Maybe the King is worried that we might wear something unexpected to the Birthday Celebration of his daughter, so he chose our clothes for us in advance."
Just like Lux, the Halfling was wearing the ceremonial dress that was worn by the Agarthian High-Ranking Nobles for special occasions.
While the two were making small talk, a knock sounded from the door, and not long after, Cleo's voice reached their ears.
"Are the two of you ready?" Cleo asked. "The carriage has arrived."
Lux and Gaap glanced at each other and nodded their heads at the same time.
"We're ready to go," Lux replied as he and his Master went to leave the room together.
They had already made plans before going to the birthday celebration, and that was to get acquainted with a few of the important people of Agartha.
Keelan, the Guildmaster of the Adventurer's Guild in the Stronghold of Norria, stressed the importance of forming strong connections with people.
"There will be times when these connections can be used to your advantage, so meet as many people as you can and befriend them," Keelan had said back then. "The more important their position, the more you should strive to get acquainted with them!"
Lux was very familiar with the saying 'it's not what you know, but who you know that matters.'
Having friends in high places would definitely make things easier if they ever needed to ask for their help. Granted, these favors would not come free, but the ability to negotiate with these individuals was the important part.
After climbing into the carriage, they took a route that was not open to commoners.
When they arrived at their destination, the Half-Elf saw a long line of carriages, waiting for their owners to disembark.
Fortunately, their carriage bore the seal of the Royal Family, so they did not need to line up. They were immediately taken to a special gate where the special guests of the Royal Family entered.
Naturally, this caught the attention of the High-Ranking Nobles, who immediately recognized Lux and Gaap from a distance.
After their amazing battle in the Gladiator's Coliseum, the pair had earned a bit of fame and influence. However, not everyone was happy with the results.
Some of the High-Ranking Nobles didn't like the fact that Highlanders were allowed to roam free in their lands, but since their King had already given his decree, they had no choice but to endure Lux's and Gaap's presence.
"Seriously, what is His Majesty thinking?" An Earl of Agartha clicked his tongue in annoyance. "He should have just silently eliminated them after the tournament."
"Dear, be careful of what you say," his wife replied. "The King has eyes and ears everywhere. Even if our carriage has a soundproofing artifact inside it, you shouldn't say such things."
The Earl once again clicked his tongue in annoyance but didn't disagree with his wife's words.
There were other nobles in Agartha that shared the Earl's dislike for the Highlanders, and all of them wished that there was something they could do about it.
Meanwhile, in the Princess' bedroom, Princess Shayna was looking at the full-body mirror with a calm expression on her face.
She was wearing a very beautiful dress that highlighted her budding beauty.
Today, she would turn thirteen years old, which was considered an ominous number by some.
However, ever since she had been cursed by bad luck, the Princess no longer thought of the number thirteen as a bad number.
In fact, she welcomed it because it reminded her of her sister, Aurora, who was currently suffering in the Pantheon of Exile.
"Your Highness, the King calls for you in the Study Room," Princess Shayna's handmaiden said in a respectful tone.
"Understood," Princess Shayna replied and started walking toward the door at a steady pace.
Her personal maids and guards followed behind her, making sure that nothing would happen to the star of today's celebration.
When Princess Shayna arrived at her Father's Study Room, she was surprised to see that aside from the King, there was no one else inside the room.
Usually, the King would have one or two people with him, even when talking in private, so the young princess felt that something was amiss.
"You look beautiful today, Shayna," King Septimius said with a smile. "Time sure does fly. Back then, you were but a small baby, and now, you are at the cusp of becoming a beautiful lady."
Princess Shayna smiled as she made a curtsy to her father before walking towards him.
"Father, you wish to speak to me?" Princess Shayna asked. "Is this about the Highlanders?"
King Septimius nodded. "You are very sharp, my daughter. Since you already know why I called for you, let me ask you a question. What do you think of that young man, Lux?"
Princess Shayna didn't answer right away. Instead, she looked at her father with a steady gaze before making her opinion known.
"Father, do you wish to hear the answer you want to hear, or do you wish to hear the truth?" Princess Shayna asked.
"The truth," King Septimius replied.
"I think that Sir Lux is a good person," Princess Shayna replied in a firm tone. "Since he came here to see my sister, I'm sure that he will follow through with his goal. My only worry is that you will do something in the background, and prevent him from reaching his destination."
"Oh? And what makes you say that?" King Septimius asked in a curious tone.
"It is because you don't want my sister to take a single step outside the Pantheon of Exile," Princess Shayna replied. "Although you don't want to admit it, you blame her for 'that' incident, right?"
"Still young, but very clever." King Septimius nodded his head in satisfaction. "I am looking forward to seeing how much you will grow in a few years' time. Tonight is your night, so I don't want to ruin your mood.
"I will also allow you to speak with the Highlanders, but choose your words wisely. You wouldn't want anything bad to happen to them during the party, right?"
Princess Shayna gave a brief nod to answer the King's question.
Seeing that his daughter understood what he wanted to say, he made a gesture for her to come closer.
"Happy Birthday, Shayna," King Septimius said before giving his daughter a hug. "I will not ask you to forget Aurora, but do me a favor. Do not mention her name or talk about her at tonight's party. Did I make myself clear?"
"Yes, Father," Princess Shayna replied. "I will do as you say."
"Good. You may now go to the waiting room. I will call you soon."
"Understood."
Princess Shayna gave her father another respectful bow before leaving the room.
"Hah… it seems that she is in her rebellious phase," King Septimius muttered a minute after his daughter left the room.
The King of Agartha loved all of his children, including Aurora. However, the love he had for her diminished after the incident many years ago, which caused one of his wives to die due to Aurora's curse.
Since then, the King had treated Aurora coldly and even made sure that she was sent to the deepest place in the Pantheon of Exile to spend her days in solitude.
But now, there were two people who intended to take her out of that place.
Truth be told, King Septimius had mixed emotions about this matter. A part of him didn't want to see Aurora being freed from her prison.
And the other part of him wanted to allow the Half-Elf to take his daughter to the Surface World, where she would be allowed to spread her bad luck, causing countless suffering.
That way, those above ground would also understand the pain that he felt after losing someone very important to him due to Aurora's curse.
"Perhaps this is one of the whims of Fate," King Septimius said softly as he closed his eyes. "I just wonder if I should let it run its course."
The King of Agartha sighed before leaving the Study Room in order to start the celebration.
Today was his daughter's birthday party, and at the very least, he didn't want it to be ruined due to the Misfortune's Beloved, whom he hadn't seen for several years.
Chapter 849 May I Have The Honor Of Having Your First Dance?
"Everyone, thank you for coming here today," King Septimius said, addressing the guests who had been invited to attend his youngest daughter's birthday.
"I believe that all of you have been well since our last meeting?" King Septimius' voice was calm and laced with a teasing tone, which made the atmosphere very casual and lively.
Everyone cheered as if to agree with their King's inquiry.
"Good!" King Septimius smiled. "Alright. I shall not make a long speech today. Thus, let me present to you my youngest daughter, Princess Shayna!"
The King of Agartha gestured for everyone to look up to the top of the staircase.
There, a young lady, whose beauty was already starting to show at a young age, walked down with a sweet smile on her face.
She was dressed in a very beautiful pink gown that highlighted her outstanding features, making those who saw her feel like their hearts were melting.
A silver tiara sparkled on top of her head, making Eiko, who saw it, become very interested in it.
"Shayna, do you have anything to say to our guests who have traveled far and wide just to be here today?" King Septimius asked in a voice filled with affection.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Princess Shayna replied before scanning the crowd of people whose gazes were locked unto her small frame.
When her gaze landed on Lux and Gaap, her eyes lingered there for a few seconds before once again scanning the crowd, making sure that she had looked at them all.
"I thank all of you for coming here today to celebrate this very special day with me," Princess Shayna said. "I hope that my Father has prepared enough food and drinks to fill your stomachs, and enough performers to keep all of you entertained. If the preparation for this celebration is somewhat lacking, please feel free to voice your concerns to me so that I may complain to him later on."
The sound of laughter and cheers resounded within the ballroom after everyone heard Princess Shayna's amusing speech.
Even Lux and Gaap, who weren't expecting much, found the young girl to their liking.
The King of Agartha looked at his daughter fondly, and a faint chuckle escaped his lips.
Clearly, he liked how Princess Shayna made everyone feel at ease with her gentle and soothing words, making the atmosphere more amiable.
"You heard my daughter, everyone," King Septimius smirked. "Feel free to complain to her if you find this celebration lacking."
Everyone knew that even if they found the preparations lacking, none of them would dare to complain about it. Even so, they still nodded their heads and smiled at their King, who had ruled Agartha for many years.
"Now, without further delays, let the celebration officially begin!" King Septimius declared.
As if waiting for that cue, the musicians started to play their instruments, and the Princess and the King headed toward the dance floor.
The two gracefully danced together under everyone's watchful eyes. It was a custom among the Royal Family for the birthday celebrant to dance with one of their own first before allowing others to take their turn.
After their dance ended, they both headed to the table reserved for the Royal Family, while the rest of the guests made their way to the dance floor to dance with their partners.
"Ei!" Eiko, who had been holding herself back, nudged her Papa's cheek, making Lux chuckle.
"Okay, let's eat." Lux smiled before heading towards the buffet-style tables that were laden with food.
Just as he expected, he garnered a lot of attention as he piled up his plate with the foods that the Baby Slime had chosen.
Aside from Beast Cores, Eiko also ate regular food. She liked to try dishes that she had never tasted before, and the dishes in Agartha were all new to her.
"Ei!"
"Okay. I'll get that too."
After filling up two plates with food, Lux returned to their table. However, halfway to his destination, a young lady wearing a pink dress blocked his path.
"Sir Lux, may I have the honor of having your first dance?" Princess Shayna asked as she made a curtsy.
The Half-Elf stiffened, not knowing what to do as both of his hands were occupied with plates of food. Bowing to her while holding them would look embarrassing.
Even so, since the Princess of Agartha, who was also the birthday celebrant of today's event, asked for a dance, he had no choice but to accept it.
"It will be my honor, Your Highness," Lux replied as he did his best to return the Princess' curtsy with a bow of his own.
"Can I leave these plates on the table first?"
"Of course, Sir Lux. Sorry for the trouble."
Princess Shayna smiled as she gazed at the Half-Elf's retreating back.
Naturally, her invitation to dance caught the attention of nearly everyone in the Event Hall of the Royal Palace.
King Septimius, on the other hand, wasn't surprised by his daughter's action. He had already anticipated this, but he didn't plan on doing anything.
Princess Shayna had already promised him to not say things that she shouldn't say, and that was more than enough for him.
"Enjoy your food, Eiko," Lux said as he placed the plates filled with food on the table. "Don't wander around anywhere, okay?"
"Pa!" Eiko nodded before jumping on top of the table to begin her food-tasting session.
After he was sure that the Baby Slime was going to behave, Lux fixed his clothes a bit before approaching Princess Shayna, who was standing beside the dance floor.
Her maids and guards were also there to ensure that she wouldn't get mobbed by the guests, and the Nobles only greeted her one at a time.
When Lux finally arrived, a smile appeared on her face when the Half-Elf reached out his hand in askance to hold her own.
The two then walked towards the center of the dance floor under the watchful eyes of everyone.
Everyone wanted to be the Princess' second dance partner for the night, so many of them asked for a dance, but instead of accepting their offers, she only said that she already had a dance partner in mind.
Lux's goal in Agartha was already known to everyone, and some of them ridiculed him for being stupid.
Those who didn't like him were very eager for him to be affected by Aurora's curse so that he would also suffer bad luck for a very long time.
Even so, they set aside these thoughts for now and watched as the Half-Elf placed his right hand on Princess Shayna's waist and waited for the music to begin.
Chapter 850 Lux’s Humble Gift
A slow and mellow tune reverberated inside the Event Hall, prompting the dancers to dance quite slowly
This kind of music was supposed to be only played when the celebration was nearing its end. But since Princess Shayna requested the musicians to play this song, they had no choice but to listen to her request.
Surprisingly, those who planned to dance alongside the Princess changed their minds and remained on the side, simply watching as the Highlander and the Princess of Agartha danced around the hall, not minding the stares of countless people who were looking at them.
"You dance well, Sir Lux," Princess Shayna said. "Do Highlanders also get dance lessons above ground?"
"I was forced to practice dancing because I had to dance with my fiance during her birthday celebration," Lux replied.
"…You have a Fiance?" Princess Shayna inquired, the smile on her face stiffening a bit.
"I have two Fiances," Lux answered.
This time, the corner of Princess Shayna's lips twitched after hearing that Lux already had two fiances.
She thought that the Half-Elf had come because he had fallen in love with her sister and wished to set her free.
However, after learning that he already had two fiances, the young beauty was very tempted to step on Lux's foot while they were dancing.
She rationally kept herself from doing that.
Doing so would shame the Royal Family's honor, so she endured her dissatisfaction and continued to ask questions as they danced.
Since the majority were paying extra close attention to the two, they all heard the Princess' questions, as well as Lux's answer.
"Sir Lux, what do you think of my Sister?" Princess Shayna asked as Lux made her twirl around slowly around him.
"I think she's very pitiful," Lux replied. "That's the reason why I came here to Agartha."
"Will you still save her knowing that you will be cursed by bad luck?"
"To be honest, I'm also a bit worried about that. Even so, since I know about her situation, I can't just let her stay in that dark and desolate place that would make people go mad."
Princess Shayna had heard very little information about the Pantheon of Exile and had no idea that her sister was currently staying in its deepest and darkest place.
Seeing that the Princess had suddenly become quiet, Lux thought that it was a good opportunity to ask her questions of his own.
"Your Highness, do you like your sister, Aurora?" Lux asked.
"Yes," Princess Shayna replied in a heartbeat. "I miss her very much."
"Then would you like to see her again?"
"I would."
Lux smiled as he continued to dance with the Princess, who was said to be the only one in the Royal Family who cared for the Misfortune's Beloved.
"Are you curious about the Surface World?" Lux inquired. "Also, if given the chance, would you like to go there?"
Knowing that everyone's attention was focused on the two of them, Lux decided to raise his voice a bit, making sure that it would be heard by everyone.
"The Surface World?"
For a brief moment, a tinge of curiosity and wonder appeared in the Princess's eyes. However, it disappeared seconds later as if it had never been there from the start.
"I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't curious about the Surface World," Princess Shayna replied. "If there is an opportunity, I would like to see it."
"Then, how about you join my Guild?" Lux asked in a volume that only the Princess was able to hear. "If you join my guild, you will be able to go there instantly."
"Eh?" Princess Shayna was so surprised by Lux's unexpected offer that she accidentally stepped on the Half-Elf's foot.
The Half-Elf only smiled and pretended that nothing had happened as he supported and guided the young beauty to continue to dance with him.
The two no longer talked about anything until the dance ended. Only after they bowed to each other did the Princess regain her composure and thanked the red-headed teenager for the dance.
"Thank you for the dance, Sir Lux," Princess Shayna said. "It was a memorable experience."
"It was an honor dancing with you too, Your Highness," Lux replied with a bow. "Please, accept this humble gift from me."
Everyone waited for Lux to give his gift to the princess, but the Half-Elf simply stood there with a smile.
Princess Shayna, on the other hand, looked in front of her in a daze, as if she had seen something unexpected.
"Whether you accept it or not is up to you, Your Highness," Lux lowered his head and whispered in Princess Shayna's ears. "But I can guarantee you that if you accept it, you will see a brand new world that exists above ground."
Lux then walked away from the Dance Floor, leaving the Princess who was still standing there in a daze.
The guests who saw this knew that something had happened between the Princess and the Highlander, but they didn't see the Half-Elf do anything suspicious.
Princess Shayna, on the other hand, took a few deep breaths in order to regain her composure. Half a minute later, she returned to the Royal Table, where the members of her family were currently seated.
"Is everything alright, Shayna?" King Septimius asked. "Did that Half-Elf do anything inappropriate to you?"
"No, Father," Princess Shayna replied. "Sir Lux didn't do anything. I was just surprised when he asked me if I wanted to see the Surface World."
"I see." King Septimius nodded.
It was not uncommon for the members of the Royal Family to visit the Surface World. In fact, the Princes and the Princesses would be given the opportunity to go there as part of their training as Royal Members of the Kingdom of Agartha.
Princess Shayna's case was a bit special because she was suffering from Aurora's curse. Because of this, she was placed under house arrest and was not allowed to step out of the Royal Palace without permission from the King of Agartha.
After Princess Shayna's and Lux's dance ended, everyone returned to the dance floor once more to take their turns to dance.
Even the young beauty's brothers' and sisters' joined the festivities, leaving their youngest sibling staring at the space in front of her in a daze.
What they didn't know was that several rows of text were shining in front of Princess Shayna, and those words were.
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