Chapter 134
As the Burning Covenant's representative in the Southern Territory, his death provided the Old Emperor with a convenient excuse. Originally, the Old Emperor wanted to use him to deal with Magana and Caslathdi, but now, bam! He's gone, and the Southern Territory is lost. This is the perfect opportunity for the Old Emperor to curb Caslathdi's momentum.
Anyway, the Old Emperor is almost insane, so it wouldn't be surprising if he did something.
If he quickens his frenzied pace, the Gate of Janus will be just in time to open, and then the Great Augustine Massacre can begin in earnest.
Ryan, having accomplished his mission, withdrew from the scene and remained in control.
'Ina' and 'Vainay' will continue to act in his place, while 'Shally' will directly launch the Holy Blood Project to accumulate strength.
Developing the Holy Blood Legion to help Caslathdi seize the throne? What benefit would that bring him? He had never even considered it.
Moreover, if things continue like this, the Gate of Janus will have to judge 'Shally' as Heretic.
Just as 'Shally's' Holy Blood Legion was beginning to take shape, Ryan didn't let the main force of the Holy Blood return to Silver Peak City at all. At that time, 'Shally' and this force would become one of his trump cards in the competition for Augustus.
Furthermore, the Holy Blood could even develop into a powerful Blood God force that gradually replaces the Blood Cult... Well, everyone should have a dream, right? What's the difference between someone without dreams and a salted fish?
As for Augustus's throne.
'Vainay' is the emperor everyone deserves!
Therefore, Ryan's plan is launched!
The crimson color began to spread silently from around the main stage.
By the time everyone realized what was happening, a huge blood-red pattern had already formed.
"This is..."
Hainuo looked up at the array that had suddenly appeared on the stage surface, his expression changing slightly. "Blood God Priest?!"
"What a strong smell of blood!"
There's something under this stage!
"Blood! Blood!"
Glug glug~
The soldiers around the stage gasped and retreated, only to see large swaths of bright red blood spilling out from below the stage.
"The great Blood God Doklodus, whose radiance illuminates this Chaos Space, now the name of war shall be interpreted. In the name of the Blood Hand Butcher 'Barton,' we beseech your might to descend upon this place and stain the world map with noble crimson..."
Hiss~~
As 'Shally' continued chanting, crimson lightning crackled on the stage, and to everyone's astonishment, a deep rift in the Inner World was torn open!
"Barton! Blood Hand Butcher Barton!"
"That guy is a demon!"
Exclamations came from all around.
'Shally' held Blood-colored Greatsword, her expression aloof and arrogant. "The will of war has already enveloped the Augustus Empire. Even your Your Majesty has pledged allegiance to the Blood God. What are you still clinging to? Loyalty? Love? Utterly laughable! Since pretense is no longer necessary, then simply tear off the mask."
She looked at Magana and Caslathdi and laughed arrogantly, "Anger? It means nothing to me. This is an order issued by your Your Majesty. The Southern Territory should have been under his control. Unfortunately, when Ryan chose to disobey his orders, this was already destined."
Haino's expression changed slightly. "You are a demon of the Blood God Legion!"
'Shally' did not answer; she walked toward the torn rift in the Inner World.
"Die!"
Magana suddenly charged out, her battle axe slashing down.
She doesn't care about demons or Patton, they can all die!
Boom!!!
The terrifying power was stopped by an invisible shield.
Magana was taken aback, suddenly feeling that this was very familiar.
Landri's Protection
[Quality: Special Item]
[Effect: Replenishes energy, blocks attacks. Cooldown: 15 days]
Isn't this the life-saving charm she gave Ryan?!
This guy actually stole Ryan's things!
Boom!
The collision of forces unleashed a terrifying aftershock, shattering the entire stage. The next moment, the Blood Minions hidden beneath the stage burst forth.
"Magana, ha~ I'll be waiting for you in the Imperial Capital for your revenge."
Leaving behind a single sentence, 'Shally' carrying Ryan's corpse stepped into the rift in the Inner World and disappeared.
Sizzle!
Crimson lightning crackled, and the rift in the Inner World, which had lost its power to sustain it, collapsed.
Magana, who was tearing the Blood Minions apart, was going mad.
"You bastard! Stop right there!!!"
"Iron Blood Legion, heed my command! Assemble your forces and march on Baron!!!"
Swish!
The figure of 'Shally' appeared in the Inner World.
A blood-red sky, a desolate land, and the familiar... Blood Hand Butcher's Altar.
That's right, this is the Inner World space where the Blood Hand Butcher's Altar was originally discovered by 'Vainay'.
As she collected the sacrificial power, 'Shally' found a way to cross the Inner World space and return here after studying the altar array patterns... In fact, she used the same method as the group of Singer who summoned her back then. That array had been left in the underground space on the outskirts of Silver Peak City until she destroyed it later.
After putting Ryan down, 'Shally' infused Magic Power into him and took out an ugly little doll from his body.
Death Puppet
[Quality: Special Item]
[Effect: Can negate damage, causing the user to 'die'.]
"Call!"
"He's alive! He's alive!"
Ryan, on his deathbed, sat up with a start, took a few breaths to feel better, and said, "It's so weird, I can be aware of things but I can't move at all, it's suffocating me."
He stood up from the ground, stretched his body, and felt no discomfort.
"It seems everything is going smoothly. This ritual is really good; it saved us a precious Magic Scrolls."
Ryan nodded in satisfaction. If the priest's ritual didn't work or was stopped, he would have to use the Magic Scrolls that Janus Path, but that thing was a one-time use item and would be gone once it was used, making it too precious.
"Well done, Bloodhand Butcher Shirley." Ryan smiled and patted 'Shirley' on the shoulder.
"Don't be too happy yet, Silver Peak City should be in complete chaos now."
"It's better for things to be chaotic. If the world isn't in chaos, how will we have a chance?" Ryan chuckled.
Augustus was already in chaos, could they have been playing house before?
"Let's go, let's get out of here first and rendezvous with the Holy Blood Legion."
With that, Ryan opened the game and switched to 'Vainay's' perspective.
'Shally's' successful retreat caught everyone off guard. After the Blood Minions used to block the way were killed, the two sides exchanged another very friendly greeting.
Magana cursed her father, Caslathdi, eighteen times. Caslathdi did not refute her, because she did not expect that her father was the one who was in charge of everything.
Ryan wasn't worried at all that they would suspect anything, because suspicion was useless; there was no way to prove anything!
He's 'dead,' and 'Shally' is gone. The Blood God's Power is there for all to see, and the power 'Shally' has used so far is the best proof—even the Blood God priests know it, so it's definitely him!
The blame was still being placed on him, and it was no use even if the Old Emperor said it wasn't true, because in the vast Augustus Empire, who besides the Old Emperor would want to kill Ryan?
More importantly, 'Shally' was promoted by the Old Emperor and was even given the title of viscount. Caslathdi had suspected this at first, but Ryan later dispelled her doubts.
"The Grand Duke still loves me."
Looking at Magana's furious expression on the screen, if the Iron Blood Legion hadn't been absent, Ryan suspected she might have even ordered a massacre of the city!
Finally, after unleashing a torrent of curses, Magana led the Western Territory forces away angrily toward the train station.
Meanwhile, Caslathdi stayed behind to appease the nobles of the Southern Territory. With 'Vainay' there, these nobles would not rebel against her. Moreover, Caslathdi immediately announced that in memory of Ryan, the entire city would mourn for three days, and she would personally organize Ryan's funeral.
"Your Highness, Ryan is very likely one of Magana's men. Should we still hold a funeral for him?"
Outside the ruined castle, 'Vainay' walked up to Caslathdi and asked.
"You're wrong. Ryan has always been my subject," Caslathdi shook her head. "Don't erase Ryan's contributions just because of a few words from Magana. She's just angry."
"So, what does Your Highness intend to do next?"
"Let's bury Ryan first." Caslathdi lowered her eyes. "Father has gone completely mad. He actually chose to collude with the Demon Legion. I should have known that Shally's power was strange. I shouldn't have taken chances. It's all my fault."
She had indeed doubted 'Shally's' power. The Holy Blood Legion was too strange, and there were many rumors in the Southern Territory that it was a Demon Legion.
"There's no use thinking about these things now." Haino walked over. "I just studied that priest. It leads to the Chaos Space, and I can't track its exact location. The most urgent thing is to prevent the Imperial Capital from taking action. Ryan is an investigator for the Burning Covenant ... I now think that your father's sudden promotion of him to a Level 5 investigator might have been a premeditated plan to use his life to stir up trouble."
Caslathdi was taken aback. Thinking about it, it was true... she seemed to have suddenly understood a lot of things.
"No wonder. The promotion of the Fire Chaser is always very strict. Father's sudden promotion of Ryan is unreasonable... Father, have you decided to take action against your daughter?" Caslathdi let out a heavy sigh. At this moment, the last bit of hesitation in her heart was gone.
"Vainay, Silver Peak City will be under your management from now on. I will not let this matter rest. After Ryan's funeral..." Caslathdi said in a deep voice, "Let's start the war!"
On the other side.
Magana boarded the train with a cold expression, embarking on her journey back to the Western Territory.
"Your Grand Duke... are you alright?"
Everson, who was traveling with them, asked cautiously.
They were quite unaccustomed to the Grand Duke suddenly not saying anything.
"I...I'm fine, I just..." Magana was silent for a long time, "I just feel a little unwell."
Feeling unwell?
Everson and the others looked at each other in bewilderment.
What's so special about this?
They understood the Grand Duke; he was never saddened by the death of anyone, not because the Grand Duke was heartless, but because every member of the Iron Blood Army was prepared for this before stepping onto the battlefield.
Fighting is all they have to do; there's no time for sadness. All they need to do is try to survive and defeat their opponents.
Even Magana herself told everyone that if she died in battle, do not grieve, but let anger become the driving force for progress, and the Iron Blood Legion will never back down!
"Looks like the Ryan brothers still know how to make their Grand Duke happy," Everson thought to himself, then gestured for the others to leave.
Two days later.
The Western Territory Nobles returned safely, Magana arranged a funeral for Ryan. A tombstone was erected in the mountains north of Childe City, upon which Magana herself inscribed the words: "Ryan Basque, the most loyal subject and Grand Duke's fiancé."
"Ryan, you died before you even saw me become Empress... How despicable!"
"Just you wait, I'll personally twist that old bastard's head off to avenge you!"
Magana stood before the tombstone.
Suddenly I sensed someone approaching.
She turned around, a hint of doubt flashing in her cold eyes. "Why is it you?"
Ina approached and bowed slightly, saying, "Grand Duke Magana, by order of Lord Ryan, after his death, I will take his place and help you ascend the throne."
Second update, 6k words! Continuing with 10k words a day today, please vote with monthly tickets!!!
Ending Remarks