Chapter XXXVIII – Day (1,271) – The Imperial Court

Chapter XXXVIII – Day (1,271) – The Imperial Court

“Lost,” I said calmly even as I raged inside. “We have lost an entire city,” I replied as my Castellan kow-towed before me. “I told the Lord to not engage with the UCS. What does he do? Answer me!”

“He disobeyed your will, Divine Empress,” my Castellan said. There was a quiver in his voice. Pathetic weakness. Both for his failure and his lack of ability to answer for it.

“And who is in charge of the city Lords? So that they may know of my great mercy and kindness while I am busy with other affairs?” I asked.

“I am, Divine Empress,” my Castellan answered.

“And what have we learned?” I asked.

“Nothing, Divine Empress.”

“Incorrect,” my Envoy stepped into the throne room. I turned my attention to him. It was a brazen move to speak up so in my throne room, but my Envoy knew his place. He would not speak unless it was important.

“Speak, my Envoy, and share what we have learned,” I commanded him.

“Divine Empress, the test was the destruction of the store pillars. The fallout was not limited to the local area. I have managed to gather reports, that the entire leadership council of the UCS has perished. Things have fallen into disarray,” my Envoy said.

“Impressive. Most impressive. Who leads those headless chickens now?” I asked.The debut release of this chapter happened at Ñòv€l-B1n.

“Their strongest did not perish unfortunately. He has taken charge after the fall of the Council and has taken up the title of Astrologer,” my Envoy said.

Once the Astrologer was dead, there would be nothing standing in my way from seizing everything. The rebels would fragment and fade away without support. Ground down over time. I would only get stronger and stronger. I did not know what awaited me, but power and my Kung-fu were the only things that truly mattered.

Screams echoed from my palace as my Castellan was skinned. He would come out the experience wiser and more capable than before as the impurities of his thoughts were purged.

I considered the future fight I would be having. It would not be simple, and I would need to train even more. I rose and left my throne room. My Envoy kow-towed as I left. He was decent, but he had not truly impressed me yet. But I could live with decent when I was surrounded by so many failures.

I returned to my chambers and removed my crown. It was a bit garish, but I liked it for when I was on the throne. It conveyed a sense of power and dignity with its silver and gold coloration intertwined and gleaming.

I set my crown on my stand and then departed my capital city. I would need train even more to be ready. I would need to push deep into the level 4 zones, killing level 5 boss monsters and possibly level 5 zones.

It would not be easy, but nothing important ever was. As I sailed across the land with powerful kicks, I smiled a bit. Even now, my body was mine to command and it never got old. As I traveled, I recalled the reports I had about the Astrologer and my personal observations when he had visited to work out the treaty that one time.

Arrogant, was the first word to come to mind. Self-assured, was another word. Like he knew the universe revolved around him. His new title was an indication that he saw himself as more knowledgeable than everyone else.

While he had the right to call himself whatever he wanted, he was not a martial artist. He was a snake in human skin. A schemer and plotter. When I saw him again, I would not hesitate or let him speak. I would act instantly and strike him down before he could unveil his scheme.

I would have to be weary of his items and Valkyries. Their teamwork was quite impressive from the reports the Envoy had gathered. In addition, they were all body fighters from what we could tell. While they might use skills, it wasn’t their primary combat method.

I also had no idea what aspect his Divinity had taken. That was why I was hesitant and willing to discuss things before. My Empire had been unstable, but now the UCS had all but collapsed. The advantage was mine. There would be no out flanking me or avoiding me now.

They would be forced into a pitched battle, and I would win. Once the Astrologer was dead, there would be no one to stand in my way. Everything was lining up in my favor and there was nothing that could counter me. With the crystals I would soon earn and the improvements to Dragon’s Talon, I would cleave my way through them all.