CHAPTER 425: THE MEETUP PART 1

[Dante’s PoV]

I stood in the throne hall of the royal capital of Vaythos, wrapped in my usual disguise.

My wrinkled hand caught my eye, and I let out a small sigh, shaking my head. I never enjoyed hiding behind false skin and false faces. But liking it didn’t matter. It was survival. Without it, I would have been hunted down long ago.

I was a fugitive, chased by enemies stronger than I could count. Some of them still searched for me, I was sure. If they ever saw my true self, I wouldn’t last a day. Disguise was my shield, my mask, my only way to walk openly in this world.

The marble floor beneath me gleamed, reflecting the banners and pillars of the hall. I stood at the foot of the throne steps, my eyes rising to meet the man who ruled this empire.

The emperor sat tall and straight on the throne, his crown sitting comfortably on his head. Beside him, like a shadow forged in steel, stood Damian, his bodyguard and brother-in-arms.

Almost fifty years had passed since the day I was dragged into this world. Fifty long years of battles, running, hiding, and clawing my way through places I didn’t belong.

And through all of it, somehow, these two had become my good friends. Strange, wasn’t it? A fugitive who had no place in this land, yet found trust in an emperor and his protector.

They knew some of my history, snippets of truth I allowed them to see. But never the full picture.

The silence in the throne hall stretched until Lucien finally spoke.

"He is late."

The emperor’s words carried that familiar edge of irritation.

Damian, standing like a stone pillar at his side, answered without hesitation. "Yes. Unlike some, he has a proper job to do."

I watched Lucien’s brows rise, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "And what exactly do you mean by that, Damian?"

Damian didn’t blink. His tone was flat. "I mean there are men who work hard to earn their coin. Honest work. Work that takes time and effort. Work that might make them late to informal, unscheduled, completely unnecessary meetings such as this."

I almost let out a laugh right then and there.

Hearing Damian taunt Lucien so bluntly never failed to amuse me. The two of them had been at this for decades, locked in a strange dance of insults and loyalty. They were closer than brothers, though neither would ever admit it aloud.

Lucien leaned back against the throne, tapping a finger on the armrest, his golden crown tilted ever so slightly as he regarded his bodyguard. "Careful, Damian. You speak as though your emperor has nothing better to do than sit and wait."

Damian didn’t so much as flinch. "I only speak the truth, Your Majesty. The empire might function better if its ruler knew what real work felt like."

That was it. I couldn’t hold back the small chuckle that slipped past my lips. I covered it with a cough, but both of them turned their heads toward me. For a moment, I saw two pairs of eyes, one amused, the other annoyed, fixed squarely on me.

Lucien arched his brow. "Something amusing, old friend?"

I shook my head quickly, forcing my expression into something neutral. "Nothing at all. Please, carry on."

Lucien’s smirk widened, and he returned his gaze to Damian. "Tell me, Damian, do you think you could sit in this chair and do what I do?"

Damian didn’t hesitate. "I could sit. I could wear a crown. I could even look down on people with that same smug face you make. But as for ruling? No. I’d probably be bored just like I am right now. It would still be an improvement."

Lucien chuckled, low and soft. "So, in your mind, the throne is nothing but a chair and a crown?"

"In my mind," Damian said flatly, "it’s a place where a man with too much free time convinces himself he’s important."

This time, I couldn’t stop it.

A laugh burst out of me, loud enough to echo in the empty hall. I pressed a hand to my mouth, but it was too late. Lucien gave me a pointed look while Damian allowed himself the smallest of satisfied grins.

But before their banter could continue, the doors of the throne room opened, and Cassian walked in.

My eyes locked onto the old man, the general of the empire’s army, as he took calm, steady steps toward the throne. Cassian was a man with frightening potential, one who could have stood as a true giant in a greater world. Yet here, in this small corner of existence, all that promise was left to waste. The thought made me sigh quietly.

His gaze met mine for a brief moment. He gave me a small nod before bowing to the emperor.

Lucien straightened in his seat, leaning forward on the throne with eyes bright with expectation.

He wasted no time and spoke eagerly.

"So, how was it?"

Cassian cleared his throat, clearly caught off guard by Lucien’s impatience.

"It was... shocking and terrifying at the same time."

As he spoke, his eyes flicked toward me again, sharp and measuring, before he continued.

"I believe he could already give me a proper fight from what I witnessed. But honestly..." Cassian paused, shaking his head slightly, "I think he wasn’t even using half his strength. If he had, I fear he could already defeat me."

Lucien’s lips curled upward. His voice was filled with excitement.

"Oh? And what else?"

Cassian exhaled, his tone carrying a mixture of awe and unease.

"His summons are extraordinary. Every one of them has reached the grandmaster rank. And, most importantly, he gained another one just half an hour ago. A hybrid ape-serpent."

Lucien leaned forward even more, his voice almost childlike with curiosity.

"And?"

Cassian hesitated for a heartbeat, then delivered the last piece of news.

"He has already moved on. This time, he went straight into another abomination zone, one that lies deep within the ruins of the lost continent.

Alone... well, with his summons. If my guess is right, in less than a week, perhaps only you, Your Majesty, will remain strong enough to stand against him... if he ever decides to turn on us."