"Haha..."
All the men cackled in unison, their laughter echoing like a sinister chorus.
"Yes, Phoenix Empress," one of the Dragonblood warriors sneered. "Our loyalty lies solely with the Dragon Emperor. We are under his direct orders to seize the Phoenix Goddess's Feather. Without it, no one can claim the title of true ruler of the Phoenix Empire." His voice turned bitter with disappointment and rage. "Unfortunately, you handed it to your Grandson-In-Law, forcing us to reveal ourselves."
All eyes shifted to Aengus, the Ruination Emperor, who now held the Phoenix Feather—a divine mark of great significance to the Phoenix Empire.
Aengus chuckled at their audacity. "What? You think I'll just hand it over to you? Perhaps you've forgotten my title." His voice dropped into a low, menacing tone as his chilling eyes bore into the crowd of traitors.
"You stand before the Ruination Emperor. I don't give power to my enemy—I take it."
Some of the men gulped in fear at Aengus' presence, but a few still stood resolute, their smirks unwavering.
"Yes, Ruination Emperor, you're absolutely right," said the man who appeared to be their leader, his tone mocking. "We already knew how obstinate the Phoenix Empress is about the throne. She'd never willingly relinquish her position of power. That's why we acted preemptively." His smirk widened into a malevolent grin. "We planted cursed seeds among our female partners in this Empire—all of them. With a single command, they'll die in tens of millions."
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The air grew thick with tension, punctuated by the gasps of the crowd.
"What!"
"Is it true?"
The female warriors turned to their husbands, their eyes wide with disbelief, sorrow, and betrayal.
"Plop! Burst!"
Before their doubts could even settle, some of the women's bodies began to bloat grotesquely, swelling like balloons before exploding into showers of blood and scattered flesh.
"You're scared? I enjoy watching the faces of despair when my enemies realize their desperate attempts to save themselves are futile."
"S-Scared?Who? We are not scared! Are you giving it to us or not?" the leader demanded, though his shaking hands betrayed his confidence.
"Do as you please, lizards. Bark like dogs or beg like one, but you will never get what I hold. The only thing I offer... is DEATH."
The Ruination Emperor's voice echoed like the whisper of a reaper, sending a wave of spine-chilling coldness through the air.
The Dragonblood warriors exchanged confused glances, unable to comprehend why the Ruination Emperor seemed utterly indifferent to the lives of the female warriors.
"Could he really be that cruel and cold, caring for no one but himself and his own power?" they wondered.
"What is he doing, Bella? Innocent female warriors are at risk because of his carelessness," Chrystia exclaimed, her voice raised in panic. "Does he really not care about so many lives? We're talking about millions here! How can someone so heartless take care of you?"
Bella's mother and grandfather also turned to her, their expressions a mix of confusion and concern, seeking an explanation.
Bella, standing firm despite the tension, shook her head slightly and smiled—a smile filled with confidence and pride in her husband. She turned toward Chrystia, her voice calm yet unwavering.
"Mother, Grandfather, trust me. Hubby isn't the type to abandon anyone, especially innocent lives. Everything he does has a purpose." She turned to the battlefield, her eyes glowing with determination. "You'll see soon enough why he's the Ruination Emperor."
Chrystia frowned but remained silent, clearly unconvinced yet unwilling to interrupt further.
Meanwhile, Aengus stood tall amidst the chaos, his aura radiating absolute control.
"You don't understand, do you?" he said coldly, his gaze piercing through the Dragonblood warriors like daggers. "You think your petty threats and cowardly schemes will make me falter?" He sneered, his voice laced with contempt. "You think I care so little about the lives of my allies? No."
His smirk grew darker, more menacing.
"What I care about...is teaching worms like you a lesson in the futility of defying me."