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Chapter 21

  Chapter 21

  Drakkel was grateful to see his demon lords come back. He had ordered them not to return as he thought he had the situation handled, but it seemed he had underestimated his opponents.

  If they hadn’t showed up when they did, he might have lost an important chess piece and half the work he did would have been for nothing.

  Now, they were heading back to the secret entrance that would take them into the underground tunnels. Because their sword step was more efficient than a human’s and they had distracted the two sword masters for a bit, even with hostages on their back, they were able to escape.

  Of course, this wasn’t without trouble. It was only that now that Drakkel had not been carrying anyone, it was all too easy to use the remnants of his sword energy to clear the path of guards and quickly leave before more reinforcements arrived.

  A few days later, they had reached the underground demon city.

  With it being his first time there, Mori was mesmerized at the sight.

  During their trip to the place, Drakkel had learned a few things from the young boy.

  He had apparently followed Drakkel on the day Master Som died to properly thank him for his help.

  While walking on the streets, he saw Master Tifu speak to the Security Office about someone who planned to break into Master Som’s manor. After finding out that Drakkel was heading to that very place, he had put two and two together.

  However, when he went to the inn to warn his assistants, he found that they were mostly gone. He was just lucky that Drion and Shia were making their last rounds before leaving as well.

  Because they determined him to be trustworthy, they decided to override Drakkel’s orders and head back with Mori and Mori insisted on coming to try to persuade the officers that Drakkel was innocent.

  When Drakkel asked him why he would abandon his family, Mori said he didn’t have one. He was an orphan.

  Since he was already traveling with them, Drakkel revealed his true identity to him as well as where they were going and Mori accepted it without a fuss, saying he had figured it out based on what Master Tifu said and what he had seen.

  At that point, Drakkel really had to recognize the boy’s talents. If he started early, he might have made a good disciple of the Sweeping Trees clan, known for their intelligence. Or really any clan for that matter. However, who was to say he still couldn’t start now? It was rare for one to be able to learn the sword with accurate proficiency at such a late age, but the boy was spectacular in every way and his foundations weren’t too terrible. Perhaps he could surprise him.

  Drakkel knew exactly what to do but decided he would look into it later. For now he had more pressing matters to attend to.

  Upon arrival at the demon palace, Drakkel had someone prepare a bath, food, and clothing for Mori and also had someone take Master Tifu to the dungeons. Then he called all the demon lords to the throne room save for Fargos, Drion, and Shia who he thought deserved a rest and Illa who was maintaining the illusions hiding the underground tunnels.

  The ones present respectfully welcomed him back, but he didn’t have the time for their niceties. As several issues stood before him, he debated which one to take care of first.

  “Is Firo Fieren awake?” He asked.

  Riyuk stepped forward. “Firo Fieren is indeed awake and full of energy.”

  Drakkel raised an eyebrow. "Full of energy you say? I'll see for myself. Bring him in.”

  Riyuk left and returned with Firo Fieren not long after. Firo Fieren was tied and being held by two demons as he was nearly dragged into the room.

  After a brief walk, he was made to kneel in front of Drakkel.

  Drakkel looked at Riyuk. “His acupoints have been blocked off?”

  “Just the ones for speaking and gathering sword energy, Your Highness.” Riyuk answered.

  Drakkel smiled. “Good. Undo the ones that are keeping him from speaking. I want to talk.”

  Riyuk bowed his head. “As you wish, Your Highness.”

  He swiftly undid Firo Fieren’s acupoints and Firo Fieren, whose composure seemed calm and collected when Drakkel first met him, all of a sudden dissolved into one of loose depravity. He laughed. “So we meet again, Drakkel Fin! Or should I say, Demon King Drakkel! Did you bring me here for a nice chat?”

  Drakkel’s smile widened. “Of course I did.”

  He got up from his throne, grabbed onto Firo Fieren’s shoulder and patted it. “I really feel elated to see you again. It’s just, now I'm concerned...”

  He feigned a worried tone. “Our first meeting left a deep impression on me. I had actually thought we could become friends. What is it they say? ‘A bosom friend afar brings distant lands near’? I saw that you were kidnapped, so I found your kidnappers. Naturally, it was all for your own benefit. Now that you’re in a safe place, you can tell me all that you know about them and I can handle it for you since we’re friends in the making.”

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  Firo Fieren spat. “Friends in the making? From a Demon King? Am I to be so ashamed while you, so honored?”

  Drakkel smiled. “Oh! Would you rather be friends with someone else then?”

  Firo Fieren went silent, lowering his head. Of course he knew who he was talking about.

  “But you can't.” Drakkel continued. “You did something wrong, didn't you?”

  The day that Rilian Adore was hiding from the carriage in Joyous Encounters. Could he actually not have been avoiding Lorian Adore, but actually Firo Fieren? After all, when two Clan Leaders met, naturally their favorite students who accompanied them would have to meet as well, especially since Firo Fieren mentioned that Rilian Adore and him used to spend a lot of tiem together.

  A smile spread upon Drakkel's face as he thought of it.

  Meanwhile, Firo Fieren lifted his head, his lips curled back in a tight grimace and his eyes maddened with rage. “I did nothing wrong! I just told him how it was! For you to have gained your power, you had to be using demonic arts! And I was right! Look at you standing there! With your dark appearance and evil look it's quite obvious you were a demon from the start!”

  Drakkel’s eyes widened.

  Was that why Rilian Adore stopped being friendly with Firo Fieren?

  “You act righteous, but I know! You would seduce people with your looks and body to get what you want! That's probably how you got Rilian Adore on your side! Seduction and whoring are demonic specialties!”

  Drakkel could feel the atmosphere in the room change.

  But, he didn't find it too surprising. After all, a mere human sword fighter dared talk down to the leader of the Demons. If one were to say that this man didn’t want to live anymore, his actions and words would only prove it!

  “Firo Fieren, I tried to be nice. But since you keep defying me, you can't blame me for being cruel.”

  He struck Firo Fieren’s acupoint to silence him.

  “Take him back to the dungeon and torture him until he tells us what he knows about the demon incidents.”

  “Yes, Your Highness.” Riyuk answered.

  Firo Fieren was dragged out as Drakkel watched him unfeelingly.

  But then he remembered something.

  Before he completely left, Drakkel placed a hand up to stop them. “By the way, Firo Fieren, I am aware that the Golden Peak Swords’ Clan is involved. If you still don't want to reveal what you know, that’s fine by me. But I will get the answer one way or another. Whether it’s through you or...”

  He smiled. “Someone you care about.”

  Drakkel saw a bead of sweat drip from Firo’s head before he was finally taken out.

  He turned back around to sit on his throne and sighed. “Bring me the demonic artifact.”

  The demon lord of Knowledge, Knowl nodded and headed out of the room. Once he returned, a demon held the very object that Drakkel had seen within the Fortress situated just outside the capital: the black lion head.

  Re’ila had informed him that demonic artifacts were remnants of the old demon clan. The clan was said to have been created when humans had prolonged exposure to a black meteoric stone that fell from the sky. After figuring out the cause of their transformation, the demons of old were said to have destroyed the stones. But they couldn’t get them all.

  Later generations of demons found that these stones reacted with their blood, granting different abilities based on how they were tempered. So the remaining stones were forged into objects and kept by Demon King Fael.

  During his reign, many were destroyed by humans, so the number of remaining artifacts wasn't much.

  “Have you figured out the origins of this artifact, Knowl?”

  Knowl nodded. “I have, your Highness. This is the Demonic Artifact Leolold.”

  Drakkel got up, grabbed the object and stared at it as he walked to his throne.

  “What does it do?”

  “Demonic Artifact Leolold was originally created to help demons quickly improve their skills. It temporarily causes a surge in demonic power.

  What a demon does with that surge depends on their ability. It’s up to them whether they can break through to another level or not.”

  “Hmmm. I see…” Drakkel said, his eyes narrowing in anger as he continued to gaze at the object in his hands. “Could it cause a demon whose power is sealed to suddenly surge as well?”

  Knowl nodded, “It’s not a common occurrence, but based on its ability, it should be possible.”

  Drakkel continued, “So this is what caused my power to run amok in Golden Peak…” He brought up his demonic energy and tried to crush the object in his hands, but found that it didn’t work.

  In frustration, he threw it to Knowl.

  “Destroy it,” he said.

  Knowl replied, “Your Highness, I don’t wish to question your judgment, but there aren’t too many demonic artifacts left in existence. They aid in strengthening our demonic army so…”

  “I said destroy it!”

  Drakkel's demonic energy surged out his body as he spoke, striking fear into those demons that felt it.

  They needed no second warning after that.

  Knowl bowed. “Of course, Your Highness. I apologize.”

  He quickly grabbed the object and scurried out.

  With Drakkel’s outburst, the atmosphere in the room felt heavy.

  And this heavy feeling didn’t dissipate no matter the amount of time that passed. So, when Drakkel later told the demon lords to disperse, none had any qualms about doing so.

  They exited the room in a hurry, leaving Drakkel to think about all that had occurred.

  Now, he knew the Golden Peak Swords’ Clan was the main culprit behind all demonic incidents since Shadowy Ridges and perhaps even before. But what he didn’t know was who among them was involved. After all, the Golden Peak Swords’ clan was large, consisting of the clan leader, elders, masters, and disciples. It wouldn’t be surprising if someone was doing things under the table and that the rest of the Clan was left unaware.

  For a moment, he wondered if he should care about that. He could just gather the evidence and prosecute the whole clan; no need to find out who was involved or not.

  After all, no had afforded such courtesy for his clan and they were all slaughtered for the actions of one person.

  But the image of a blonde-haired man with large brown eyes flashed in his mind and all the thoughts disappeared.

  He shook his head.

  He would take care of the matters at hand first and focus on the true offenders later. Too many clans had already been wiped out and he didn’t wish to bring about another bloodbath.

  He decided to shift his thoughts to how Master Som died. It was in a similar way to his own Master. He sensed nothing in the air so he didn’t know how the attack came about. As for poison, he might have considered it, but his Master wouldn’t have taken something like that.

  Even if he had, he was a medicine master, used to testing poisons and medicines on himself. No simple poison could have taken him down. Sadly, the bodies in question were out of his reach, so he couldn’t even perform an autopsy to check. Likely, the evidence had already been burned and the ashes were scattered in a place that no one would find them.

  The thought made Drakkel clench is fist.

  He still needed more- a little more proof until he could execute his plan.

  He had already decided.

  As long as all went well, in the next few days, he would head to Towering Heights.

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