CHAPTER 89: CHAPTER89-THE CLAWCLASH EMPIRE’S BRUTAL NATURE

It was Fiona.

At her words, the people of Dalton all turned to look at her with subtly complicated expressions. It was thanks to Fiona’s protection that Lilith had survived a hundred years of wandering unscathed. Everyone trusted what Fiona said.

Elarielle cleared her throat.

"This time, I will not allow any accidents to happen."

She would not make the same mistake twice.

Then a key thought struck her, and she quickly asked,

"Lilith, did you tell your father you’re going on this expedition?"

Lilith blinked, then scratched her cheek with an awkward smile.

"Hehe... not yet..."

At once, everyone in Dalton took a synchronized step backward.

Reize was stunned as well.

Miss, you can’t set me up like this!

If he took her without permission, she would surely be fine—

but when they got back, Leo would skin him alive!

Seeing their reaction, Lilith stamped her foot.

"Relax—my dad will definitely agree!"

Sure enough, a moment later Leo’s voice resonated through the great hall.

"Go, then. Just be careful."

Lilith’s face lit up with delight.

"Hehe, don’t worry, Dad!

I’m terrifyingly strong now!"

Leo couldn’t help but shake his head and smile as he watched her from afar.

Though his daughter had never lacked resources, proper tempering was still necessary.

Besides, he would be watching personally this time—there would be no repeat of what happened before.

Inside the hall, with Leo having spoken, no one had further objections.

Reize hurried to pledge himself,

"Please rest assured, Miss—this time I will protect you with everything I have!"

"Really?"

"Then thank you, Brother Reize!"

And so the three teams set out for the three ancient ruins.

Lilith’s insistence on going to the Human Mage Tower had its reason.

Ever since the ruins emerged, the Holy Sword Excalibur she wore had been restless, tugging her with a powerful pull in the direction of the Mage Tower.

The sword, a self-willed weapon Leo had given her for protection, was one she cherished deeply.

Bringing it to investigate the Human Mage Tower was only natural.

At the same time, throughout the Sakend Plane, countless beings who fancied themselves strong enough were converging on the three sites.

The ancient treasures and legacies rumored to lie within could drive any power mad; with the goddess of fortune’s favor, one might soar to the heavens in a single leap.

Before Leo floated countless light screens, each showing a subordinate’s live perspective.

The largest panel, naturally, was the team carrying Lilith.

Just then, Leo’s brows knit.

He looked up toward the void, his gaze piercing the plane’s boundary.

Out in the vast Starsea beyond the Sakend Plane, three figures radiating terrifying auras were striding toward it.

Their power level was Sanctuary Fire Rank—a realm never before seen openly within Sakend.

"Captain, the Sakend Plane lies just ahead," one of them said.

The leader nodded, his voice icy.

"This low-grade plane is insolent enough to defy the decree of the Clawclash Empire.

Last time’s sweep failed to wipe them out entirely. This time we level it—leave not even chicken or dog alive."

But no sooner had he spoken than a calm voice sounded in the void.

"Must the Clawclash Empire always go to such extremes?"

The three froze.

A figure appeared soundlessly before them.

Leo’s cold eyes settled on the trio.

He was angry now. The Clawclash Empire was being outrageously overbearing.

This wasn’t merely suppressing the disobedient—this was treating life as weeds,

valuing living beings and civilization less than the flowers in their courtyards.

Seeing Leo, the three men’s pupils tightened.

The leader barked,

"Who are you?

Knowing we are of the Clawclash Empire, you still dare defend a low-grade plane? Are you looking for death?"

Leo shook his head at their arrogance and flicked his hand.

Puff—!

As if erased from existence, the captain vanished without a trace—

not even a mote of dust remained.

The two survivors were completely dumbstruck.

In their senses, the captain’s life aura had utterly disappeared.

A boundless terror engulfed them.

"Y-you... do you have any idea what you’re doing...

We are of the Clawclash Empire! You dare kill us?!"

"Aren’t you afraid the Clawclash Empire will hunt you down?" the other stammered.

Leo sneered.

"I’ve already killed one. Why would I balk at a second?"

Besides, he had just disciplined the Empire’s higher-ups. Why would he care about a pair of errand-runners?

At his words, the two went limp in the void, sick with regret.

They had thought this an easy extermination—

their target plane scarcely had any Sanctuary Radiance Rank experts,

and the three of them at Sanctuary Fire Rank should have been able to crush it without effort.

Instead, they’d kicked an iron wall.

Hiss—

Leo pointed casually, and another of them popped like a bubble.

In the blink of an eye, only one member of the Clawclash trio remained.

The last man was deathly pale, trembling like a leaf.

"S-spare... spare me!

Honored sir, please spare my life!"

Leo regarded him coolly.

"Do you want to live?"

He snapped to attention and kowtowed repeatedly.

"Yes! I want to live!

Please, spare me—I was only following orders!"

He had thought himself doomed, but now there was a sliver of hope.

Leo’s gaze remained frosty.

"Tell me—who is the enemy you most want eliminated right now?"

The man froze.

The enemy we most want eliminated?

He risked a furtive glance at Leo.

My lord... the one I most want to eliminate is you...

Leo seemed to read his mind and let out a short, mirthless laugh.

"So, you think your life is too long, do you?"

An oppressive force clamped around the man’s very soul.

One thought from Leo, and he would vanish from the cosmos.

"Wait—I understand! I’ll talk!" he screamed.

"Mount Divinus! It’s Mount Divinus!"

Mount Divinus.

Currently the Clawclash Empire’s number-one enemy.

Its power was formidable. Though not quite on the Empire’s level, it was strong enough that the Empire could not subdue it quickly.

Leo wasted no more words.

He tore open a rift and flung the man into a void-tunnel.

"Take me to Mount Divinus."

"W-what? I can’t go there!

They’ll kill me!"

"Excellent. Then I’ll kill you now."

Leo couldn’t help himself; he gave the wretch a thrashing that left his face swollen and bruised.

Under the miserable guide’s lead, Leo soon arrived at Mount Divinus.

Before them rose an unimaginably vast mountain, colossal as a galaxy, standing proud in the starry void.

The summit swirled with dense, sacred radiance that exuded a suffocating majesty.

Leo took in the sight and nodded.

"Truly not bad."

He glanced at the guide with the battered face.

"You can scram. I’ll give you ten seconds to run."

The man vanished into the depths of space without looking back.

At that moment, several powerful guards blinked into place before Leo.

The leader probed the lingering aura in the vicinity, then barked,

"Scum of the Clawclash Empire, are you?"

Leo shook his head.

"I am not."

"Hah! Still trying to lie?

You were skulking around Mount Divinus—spying! Seeking death!"

Without another word, the guards launched their attack on Leo.