410 Aevraury

After bidding farewell to Ruby Armant, Asai and his party resumed their march westwards. Quick to reaching the portal to Nightmare Castle, as the journey was pleasantly uneventful. Especially when Asai had this increasing sense of urgency that was beginning to keep him up at night, as if he was wasting his time and should be elsewhere, achieving, doing, accomplishing something.

Now leaving the castle, and crossing the newly built bridge. Asai blinked in surprise as Duke Jeffrey de Lumix had set up a force of around 500 of his best knights.

"Your Grace! It is undoubtedly good to see you return safe and sound! Please, follow me." A knight, clearly loyal to de Lumix duchy quickly marched off towards the largest tent. Asai, needless to say, followed him.

"Your Grace, His Grace, the duke of war has safely returned!" The knight saluted before standing aside, allowing Duke Jeffrey's eyes to land upon Asai and then quickly towards his daughter.

"Duke Trichia, I'm extremely glad to see you return. As you can see, I was in the middle of equipping my armour, and was close to marching into Ignis to demand your return. Please, do update me." Jeffrey, who had only managed to put his chainmail on with the aid of his own trainee, now shrugged the young-man away. And as much as he wanted to embrace his baby-rose. Official matters were prioritized as the war up north was taking a turn for the worse, since the dekans decided to go on the offensive.

"Duke Lumix, upon entering the kingdom of Ignis, we were surrounded and captured. And although I could've fought our way out, I decided to try my hand at diplomacy, thus surrendering ourselves and requesting a peaceful-discussion with their monarch. Queen Emilita Regenon."

Jeffrey's brows rose, hearing such a familiar surname, immediately connecting the dots that the humans were thrust into a family-feud.

"Go on..."

"Upon meeting their monarch, I successfully negotiated my services, conquered one of their dungeons that was on the verge of an outbreak, successfully saved their adventurers and people. Having proved the humanity of kingdom both powerful and resourceful. The queen of dark-elves decided to consider our desires for an alliance in exchange for a single condition. In which I was able to fulfil-"

"-What was the condition?"

"Having delivered, we made our way back swiftly. And as much as we wanted to send a messenger or two, to update you and in extension Queen Victoria of our updated geo-politics and military-alliances, Ignis is severely lacking in pigeon-couriers."

"Wait. What was the condition? Asai..."

Asai, feeling somewhat awkward glanced around. Seeing him become so uptight, Jeffrey figured whatever it was, it was probably highly-classified information. Thus, he kicked everyone out except for Asai, Robin Sol and Rosemi de Lumix.

"Go on..."

"Fuck me, it's going to sound so bad, as if I'm admitting to infidelity right in front of both father and daughter." "Your Grace, the kingdom of Ignis, Queen Emilita Regenon stated that the military alliance would only be accepted if I gave her my seed."

Duke Jeffrey's eyebrows rose once more. Before the dots connected within his mind.

"Y-you! You horn-dog! First Queen Victoria Del Lagos, and now this Queen Emilita Regenon!? W-wait. don't tell me. You also did it with Rima Regenon!?" Anger surfaced as his body language became frustrated.

"Father! Asai did it for the greater good of our kingdom! You can't blame him. Besides, I don't mind him sleeping around, so why should you?"

Jeffrey staggered back as his baby girl took the man's side, against him.

"My Rose, you misunderstand- I'm not angry that he's sleeping around as he pleases. I can't blame him if powerful women desire an equally powerful man. But, I can be jealous of Asai's ability to catch the attention of so many beauties..." 

Rosemi staggered back as her father openly exposed himself.

Asai cleared his throat before answering his question.

"For your information, I haven't touched Rima Regenon at all. In fact, the way that woman looks at me is frankly frightening...

Also, I believe Rosemi has something she would like to update you on."

Jeffrey nodded, before turning his gaze towards Rosemi's ocean blue gems that were brimming with joy. His hands gestured towards the man to hurry up and leave, literally shooing him out of the tent along with Robin and the two dhans in [Hide]

Asai left as instructed. Leaving Rosemi behind to update her father on her progress with capturing Asai's heart and a permanent position in his life. In addition to reporting the details of their new military alliance. 

In which the duke would soon find himself marching into Ignis, albeit not to invade but as an ally. To meet with Ruby, to perform a join military manoeuvre to escort the dark-elves up towards the north, to enter the war efforts. Another letter would be sent back home to Del Lagos, informing the merchants that trade was now opened up with Ignis. An entirely new kingdom with untouched potential for exotic goods and wares, and their great desire for grain and food. Something Del Lagos had plenty of.

...

Asai, casually apprehending a few horses for his party, preparing for his journey onwards. Took the time to inspect his newest addition once more.

[Asai de Trichia: Lvl 96]

[HP: 165 MP:155]

[Title: Monster]

[Skills unlocked:]

[Summon Meteor]

Summons a single rock meteor upon targetable destination [Mana Cost: 200]

Asai's hands, increasingly itching as he read the skill description. "Fuck me, I really want to test it out."

However, even if the man was capable of casting it, he had a certain dreading feeling that he would be crippled for a long duration as his mana-heart replenished its stores. 

"Even if I somehow managed to reach MP:200. Just from casting this single skill, wouldn't I be out of mana and in extension, out of the battle? If the meteor it summons turns out to be dog-shit. That would turn me into a sitting-duck...

And what of its cooldown? How high would the mana cost increase to if I needed to cast the skill again!?"

kophzi

[Asai de Trichia: Lvl 96]

[HP: 165 MP:155]

[Title: Monster]

[Skills unlocked:]

[Active Skills:]

[Hide]

Able to Vanish from players or monsters that are up to 15 levels higher.

[Death Call]

Brings an opponent within a 10 meter distance to your feet and paralyze it for 4 seconds.

[Double Psychic Phantom/Annihilate]

Additional 300% Damage added to a regular attack.

[Sealing Square]

Seals opponents that are within a 15 meter range

[Phantom Menace]

Summon two phantoms 90% of caster level [Lvl 86]

[Lingering Shadow]

Leaves a phantom after image after skill usage

[Summon Meteor]

Summons a single rock meteor upon targetable destination [Mana Cost: 200]

[Summon Skeleton]

Skill costs both HP & MP. Maximum [25]

[Weighted Slash]

Overhead sword strike that increases caster's total [Mass] x [Velocity] by 15%

[Knife Throw]

Additional 40% damage added to your Dart Attacks.

[Summon Bird]

Summons a baby bird [Cotton] to caster side

[Inventory]:

[Decimate][Ruin][Katana]

80% of caster's normal attack to AOE zone : Full Moon / Half Moon

[Massacre][Solace][Spear]

Overhead throw 15% of caster's [STR+DEX] as AOE damage at target proximity x 10

[Call to Battle][Caronia's Spirit][Ring]

Summon dwarven king Caronia's 1000 elites to battle.

[Bloodlust Amplification][Yokai Mask]

Wearer's bloodlust & killing intent is amplified during times of bloodshed.

[Overhaul][The Queen's Gift][Ring]

Appearance change to elven

❤