"It's definitely an imperial-led siege — they must have brought the Royal Imperial Guard along..."
Crow-Eye recalled the intelligence his bloodline organization had gathered. The Shadow Empire's royal family was exceptionally low-key on a daily basis, but the hidden power they possessed was terrifying beyond measure. They commanded an entire Royal Imperial Guard capable of casting high-level shadow spells instantly, and they had taken in a vast number of elites among ability users and bloodline bearers.
"Today's going to be dangerous — there's a good chance both of us will die here... Are you scared?"
Crow-Eye glanced over at Steel-Man beside him.
"Haha... the word 'cowardice' doesn't appear anywhere in my Knight's code!" Steel-Man's reply was exceptionally bold.
Around his body, a layer of white light had already condensed over his armor, forming a secondary line of defense, and flames blazed directly along his Knight's sword.
It was obvious that under the extremely disadvantageous circumstances, Steel-Man had also activated some sort of secret technique to unleash his power.
"Alright then... prepare to break through..."
Crow-Eye suddenly tore open his coat, revealing a torso crisscrossed with scars. Across his back, a tattoo of a massive black serpent came vividly to life.
"Unseal!!!"
Accompanying Crow-Eye's low shout, the giant serpent on his back actually came alive, opening its crimson pupils, flicking its forked tongue, and letting out a hissing roar.
"Kill!"
Two figures charged toward the approaching Imperial army like furious dragons, roaring as they surged forward...
...
Several days later, on a stretch of beach.
"Cough... cough..."
Crow-Eye opened his eyes and spat out the fine grains of sand in his mouth.
His vacant pupils gradually sharpened: "Why am I here? Right! We breached Demon Island, but we were ambushed by the Imperial army... The Royal Imperial Guard's combat strength really was ferocious... What a pity about Steel-Man..."
The sheer intensity of that battle — even Crow-Eye himself doubted he could have survived it.
Therefore, upon discovering that he was neither dead nor captured, the expression on his face was one of utter bewilderment.
"You're awake?"
An exceptionally pleasant voice drifted over. Crow-Eye turned toward the sound and immediately felt his mouth go dry, his heartbeat quickening.
Standing beside him was a noblewoman in a black dress. Her features could only be called average, yet she possessed a unique charm.
What shocked Crow-Eye even more was that sense of closeness and reverence — it made him want to drop to his knees before her at any cost, to kiss the ground beneath her feet.
……
"Sir, might I have a word with you in private?"
On the streets of Bearcity, a young woman in uniform stood before Raylin, holding up an identification badge.
The emblem of imperial authority gleamed brightly on its hard leather case, causing other pedestrians to clear the way. Even more onlookers were sizing up Raylin with poorly concealed amusement.
In the Empire, no matter what, provoking the department this young woman represented meant a miserable fate!
"Hmm, I didn't realize… I'm quite popular these days, am I? Come with me!"
Raylin smiled, touched his nose, and turned to walk into a coffee shop, showing not the slightest awareness that he was a suspect.
What truly shattered the bystanders' composure was that the officer girl followed right behind Raylin without a moment's hesitation, a gentle smile even playing on her lips.
"Tch! Playing dress-up? What nerve!" A short, pudgy man pushed up his glasses and muttered with undisguised jealousy.
"Idiot!" His companion immediately clapped a hand over his mouth. "This is a public street — the Imperial Brain and the Shadow Magic Network are watching! You'd use a fake badge here? Do you have a death wish?"
"What a shame… Such a lovely flower, and she's exactly my type!"
The fat man broke free and sighed wistfully.
"Actually, I think they make a pretty good couple. The guy's handsome too!" A nearby girl's eyes were practically sparkling with stars…
"Welcome!"
The coffee shop's attendant politely held the door open, then froze.
Obviously, the attendant recognized Lei Lin, because the place Lei Lin had chosen was the very same couples' café where he had met with Wan She before.
Last time, Lei Lin had not only brought a different girl and rented a private room, but he had also left the dazed young woman there all by herself afterward, leaving an extremely deep impression on the attendant. In fact, if not for the suggestion Lei Lin had planted in that girl's memory, the café would probably have already notified certain relevant departments by now.
And now, seeing Lei Lin walk in with yet another girl, the attendant's expression didn't change on the surface—he still offered a polite greeting. But the look in his eyes practically screamed "player" loud and clear.
"Give me a couples' room, same standard as last time!"
After hearing Lei Lin's request, the attendant's face grew even more speechless.
However, professional composure quickly got the better of him, and he obliged Lei Lin's wishes. More remarkably, they ended up using the very same room—Lei Lin's booking from last time.
"No matter what happens, don't disturb us!"
After the attendant brought in the coffee, the police girl affectionately took Lei Lin's hand and gave the attendant his instructions.
Seeing this scene, the attendant's face was full of exasperation. As he closed the door, he secretly gave Lei Lin a thumbs-up.
A layer of shadow enveloped the entire private room. Only then did the police girl's face finally show a relaxed expression, and she lazily stretched her body.
With just that single movement, the aura about her changed dramatically. Her delicate little face was exquisite beyond compare, and those dewy, glistening eyes seemed as though they could speak.
"We meet again…
Lei Lin sighed, looking at the girl before him whose appearance had completely transformed.
The person before him was none other than the ruler of the entire Shadow World—the intermediate deity of the former pantheon, Shar!
He didn't bother asking how she had managed to find him. After all, the entire Shadow Empire was hers. Once her spiritual search failed, she would naturally have realized that Lei Lin had used a false identity to blend in among the empire's citizens. Through a broad and meticulous screening, finding Lei Lin would have been no difficult task at all.
How could a bunch of corrupt bureaucrats selling fake IDs and doing side jobs possibly stand a chance against Shar, the empire's sovereign?
"You used this to track me down, didn't you?"
Lei Lin pulled out his ID card and gave it a casual wave.
"I never imagined that the empire I once shaped and established with my own hands would have rotted into this state by now…"
Shar remained silent, her starry eyes gazing at Lei Lin. "This isn't your true body either—it's just a projection of your power…"
"I came with good intentions — why are you always so unwilling to accept them?"
Shar's brows knitted together, and she seemed genuinely hurt by this, but Lei Lin's expression didn't change in the slightest.
You must be joking! If he actually trusted Shar, he would truly be asking for death. Her capacity for deception was absolutely maxed out — she could fool even existence above the seventh rank if they weren't careful.
Therefore, after Shawill and the Blood Heritage Alliance departed, Lei Lin's true body also left the City of Ten Thousand Bears to travel, leaving only a projection behind, carrying none of the items that could possibly reveal his identity.
"Let's put that aside for now... What did you come to discuss with me this time, Lady Shar?"
Lei Lin settled onto the soft crimson sofa and made a gracious gesture of invitation.
"The sorcery you used that day... I saw traces of the
For beings of their level, there was no need for roundabout conversation. The moment Shar realized her disguise had been seen through, she cut straight to the point.
"That's right — this arcane art was indeed a harvest I obtained from the World of Gods!"
Lei Lin nodded and admitted it openly, watching as Shar seated herself before him with the poise of a well-bred lady, her fair and delicate skin alone enough to be enticing.
Upon hearing Lei Lin's words, Shar's expression shifted abruptly, turning somewhat unsightly.
Obviously, that lethal sensation from before still lingered in her memory, leaving her deeply unsettled and profoundly uncomfortable.
But Lei Lin couldn't have cared less about any of that. On the contrary, he fixed the goddess with an even bolder and more audacious gaze. One had to admit — Shar's true form was genuinely beautiful, especially that playful, impish quality about her, which lent her an air of wildness that made countless males instinctively want to conquer her.
Moreover, having mastered this ultimate weapon and successfully projected its deterrent power onto Shar, Lei Lin had seized the initiative in their situation.
It was like a nation possessing nuclear deterrence facing one that didn't yet have nuclear weapons — that confidence and authority were enough to make Shar pale.
"I can smell the scent of Wan She here... You've met with her, right here!"
Shar changed the subject, her gaze settling on the spot where Wan She had previously been.
"Well, after all, we are allies... Communication and intelligence-sharing between us are only natural." Lei Lin showed not the slightest bit of evasiveness, and he even made a point of emphasizing the word "allies."
"Then — what price would it take for you to abandon your alliance with Wan She? I believe I would be a far better ally! What about the entire Shadow World's primal force supply? You carry the bloodline of this world — the Shadow World's primal force would be of tremendous benefit to you!"
Shar laid out her offer directly.
More shadows enveloped the room, sealing it off completely. Lei Lin could even feel faint traces of the world's power locking down the space — Shar had taken her caution to the absolute extreme.
Their pleasant conversation lasted for two hours before Lei Lin finally left the café under the admiring gaze of the waiter.
"Betray my alliance with Wan She?"
Lei Lin shook his head. He had signed a bloodline pact with Wan She, with the Nightmare World serving as its witness.
Although his rights as a Nightmare Energy-Devouring physique bearer would significantly reduce the punishment for breaking the contract, it was still more than the current Lei Lin was willing to bear.
"So the best solution is for Wan She to compromise as well... After all, I am a great advocate of peace..."
Lei Lin shamelessly declared of himself.
( . )