by Jason Hale
He also used the information he gleaned from her to prepare the assassinations of many key members of house Slesinger.
By the time she realized what he'd been up to, it was too late. She personally witnessed her Semi-Saint uncle butchered by Elmar during a dreadful night.
The realization that she'd been stupidly contributing to her family's demise was too hard to bear.
Out of shame and grief, she committed suicide, only leaving behind an apologetic note. When they realized what had transpired, many of house Slesinger lost all affection for her and cursed her name for their losses. Her own father didn't mourn her, blaming everything on her "stupidity."
At the time, Koloman was eight. Yet, the events remained firmly engrained within his mind and fueled his hatred of the imperial family.
Chapter 71 - Which One Will You Choose?
Winged serpents and paragon spirits had been at odds for more than a hundred thousand years. Although the winged serpents had been feigning submission for the last thousands of years, the von Juras firmly believed they were just biding their time. Therefore, they would suppress them at any given opportunity.
Elmar's position as crown prince wasn't always as secure as it was now. He was the first of eight sons, the strongest and most outstanding in cultivation talent. However, he wasn't always the craftiest.
The best at scheming, his second brother used to cause him a lot of trouble and almost led their father into deposing him. Back then, he'd genuinely fallen for Emilia. However, when the second prince got wind of it, he stealthily informed their father, the holy emperor.
He flew into rage and left Elmar with only two choices. Either using the situation to his advantage to deal severe blows to the winged serpents or abandon his title of crown prince.
Elmar chose the crown prince title.
"You are a fool. I could legitimately kill you, and none would blame me for it.
However, for the sake of your sister, I will spare your life this once. In return, you must never leave the confines of house Slesinger in a lifetime.
If you do, your life ends."
Elmar then vanished as silently as he'd appeared.
...
"A sentimental crown prince? Unexpected. However, I can use that to my advantage."
Knowing that Elmar meant to dispose of him after the competition, Konnor couldn't sit like livestock awaiting death. The original plan was to disappear and return to the palace after the competition with his eunuch status and the empress' token. However, now that he'd entered Elmar's radar, more caution proved necessary.
Another problem was how to defeat Holgren. In the wilds, with Man-Breaker in hands, he obviously didn't fear him. In the competition, however, it was a whole other matter.
In his True-Spirit Form, Holgren was almost invincible beneath the Transcendent Rank. To defeat him, Konnor would either need to master the powers of his physiques, increase his cultivation, or learn a fourth circle spell.
The last option, he could do with the system. However, this was bound to raise questions he didn't wish to answer.
Fourth circle spells and above were all controlled by the Holy Flame Church. Besides the sovereign prince houses and the imperial family, none could access them without submitting to the church.
Even the dukes were no exception. How then could he explain his ownership of one of them?
However, as he pondered his options, a knocking sound came from his doorstep.
Ilaina and Daphne were currently resting by his sides. Unwilling to disturb them, he silently snuck out of bed, got dressed in a large blue robe open at the chest, and stepped toward the door. At the same time, he activated his Origin Sight to see who he owed the visit to.
What he saw caused puzzlement to flash within his eyes.
Pulling the handle, Konnor stepped outside and closed the door behind him.
There, two palace ladies were waiting for him.
"What are you doing here? And what do you want with me?"
The palace ladies looked at him with a smile, and each pulled out a box they extended toward him.
"Congratulations, her majesty, the holy empress is offering you a treasure. With it, victory is yours."
"Congratulations, her grace, the holy consort is offering you a treasure. With it, victory is yours."
"However, you can only pick one of the two."
Konnor who hadn't anticipated such development stared flabbergasted at the two.
"Come again?"
...
Meanwhile, within the imperial palace, Verena and Else were meeting for their weekly chess match.
"Which one do you think he will pick?"
Verena asked while moving her chess piece.
"Yours is too eye-catching. There is also no certainty he can use it. He should pick mine or none at all."
"I tend to think yours is the most eye-catching."
...
Regaining his wits, Konnor lowered his gaze to the two boxes presented to him and opened their lids.
Within the holy consort's box, he saw a golden pill rippling with terrifying force, while within the holy empress' box was an ordinary looking dark-blue scroll.
Using his Origin Sight, he analyzed the nature of the two items.
"Saint-Origin Pill."
"Low-grade Fourth Circle Spell: Lesser Storm Elemental."
Two bombs had just landed into his hands. A rare item, Saint-Origin Pills contained the essence of deceased Saints and were naturally condensed upon their death.
Swallowing it, he could bring his physiques to higher levels even without the help of the system. It would also be of great use when he reached the Transcendent Rank and needed to unlock his meridians.
Better, it also granted him a chance to unlock a special physique linked to the deceased Saint's constitution. However, for a few days after swallowing it, holy essence would swirl around him like a beacon.
As for the fourth circle spell, due to its storm element, even among low-grade fourth circle spells, it was extremely powerful and could contend with most mid-grade fourth circle spells.
The problem was that in the Holy Flame Empire, only two houses had access to that spell.
House von Juras and house Kvass. Outsiders were never allowed a glance. The implications made it arguably worse than the Saint-Origin Pill. How were these gifts? Obviously, they'd sent time-ticking bombs to his doorsteps!
"You can thank her majesty and her grace on my behalf. However, those gifts are too heavy, and I dare not accept them."
He then turned heels and was about to leave when Else's representant's voice echoed.
"Her grace wanted me to tell you that there will be at least one Saint present during the next round. Your disguise cannot fool him. However, the protection of the holy essence left by the Saint-Origin Pill can help you pass that hurdle."
Konnor hesitated. With his current bloodline level, he could indeed not deceive Saints. Only by reaching the next stage could he fool them.
That Saint-Origin Pill clearly was the most sensible choice. However, his debts toward the holy consorts were pilling up, and soon, he wouldn't be able to pay his due.
More importantly, her motives and the nature of her relationship with the previous Konnor remained unknown. At this point, getting too close to her was unwise.
"Tell her grace that her concern is appreciated but unnecessary. If I cannot win depending on my own strength, then I can only blame my uselessness."
He declared, walked back into his chambers, and shut the door into their face.
Knowing that they'd failed their mission, the maids sighed, turned heels and left. Thankfully they would both return without success.
As soon as he locked the door, Konnor stepped into his new space treasure where he'd been hiding the demonic beasts. The system's voice then echoed within his head.
"Are you going to do it now?"
"Yes. I wanted to wait and make further plans first, but I suppose there is no other way for
me to win and evade scrutiny.
Exchange 2,500,000 exp to promote me from Pureblooded Incubus to Dream-Weaver!"
"As you wish!"
Chapter 72 - Distance
The third level of the incubus bloodline list, the Dream-Weaver stage unlocked many wondrous abilities. Most importantly, in terms of bloodline level, it was already the limit of what one could see in a mortal world. Outside of places like the main seats of the Celestial Church and the Infernal Cult, there was probably no knowledge of it.
At this stage, the incubus became a true master of the ethereal, capable of sending his mind into others' through astral projection and rewriting all their innate wishes or desires. He could also transform dreams into reality and summon nightmares to shred his foes.
There were many other abilities. Among other things, his speed and strength would skyrocket while his flexibility reached inhuman levels.
In the Infernal Realm, Dream-Weavers were born at the Semi-Holy Rank, and all belonged to the nobility. This alone was proof of their might.
Within the space treasure, Konnor sat in the middle of an empty grassland with his original appearance, waiting for the system to complete the exchange. The system traded the 2,500,000 exp for the bloodline upgrade, and Konnor's exp count dropped to 9,453,225.
Then the transformation began. His white skin turned into a pale grey while long claws sprang from his fingers and toes. His eyes turned into a full violet, leaving no space for white, and his short black hairs extended to fall all the way down to his waist.
Violent demonic energy swirled around his body, larger goat horns emerged from his forehead, and from his back grew a pair of grey flesh wings large enough to enshroud his form.
He stood up, and although his height remained at 1.85 meters, his muscular build rippled overbearing energy and newfound might. In the distance, the demonic beasts that felt the outburst of demonic energy shivered in fright. Their instincts telling them to keep their heads pressed against the ground to avoid offending the lord.
Konnor stretched out his arm, feeling that besides his new abilities, even his old one became a lot more powerful. His telekinesis could now accomplish mightier feats while his Transformation Skill could deceive even Saints.
As for his physical abilities, he could feel himself:
Harder.
Better.
Faster.
Stronger.
His speed, in particular, had already reached the Transcendent level.
"Good. I should now have no trouble winning the competition."
He reckoned, used his Transformation Skill to return to Anselm Kracht's shape, and left the space treasure.
By the time he returned to the outside world, Daphne and Ilaina were still resting. However, he received news that Zamira and Wulf were on their way and therefore got dressed to welcome them.
But as he stepped out of the door, a shadow shot from his side, and bared its claws at him!
"AAAAARGH!"
The shadow roared, and instinctively Konnor threw a palm at its face.
*BAM*
The "shadow" spiraled into the air and crashed onto the ground. Konnor shot a vigilant gaze at the figure he just sent flying, but when he saw who was lying on the ground, his eyes went from furious to puzzled.
"I just wanted to surprise you! Why did you have to be so brutal?!"
Nier wailed as she readjusted her position on the ground and stroked her right cheek where Konnor's handprint now remained.
Konnor blinked for a few seconds, not knowing what to do.
"Vigilance is key to survival. You can only blame yourself for being so silly."
He replied after a moment of silence. Nier couldn't help but agree. However, her heart was still full of grievances. Why did the slap have to be so hard?
*Sniff* *Sniff*
"You're always bullying me. And here I was coming to do my good deed of the day."
"Not interested."
Konnor dryly cut.
"You don't even know what it is."
"Not interested."
Nier was struck speechless. What did she do to offend him?
"You're not even going to help me up?"
"You have functional feet and legs. Use them."
Without further ado, Konnor left. Nier could no longer pay any attention to the pain of her right cheek and leaped back on her feet.
"Anselm Kracht, stop right there!"
But Konnor ignored her and carried on with his way, so she crossed the distance between them, and seized his arm.
"You've been avoiding me since that time in the forest. What did I do to you?"
Considering her unique position in the imperial family, it wasn't easy for Nier to make a friend. In fact, she didn't have any. To say that she was content spending her days alone with her sword would be a lie.
She'd finally managed to make a meaningful friend. Why was he suddenly trying to put distance between them? She couldn't understand.
It was fine if there was a reason. But to be snubbed out of the blue after a life and death event that should have brought them closer?
What nonsense was this?
Konnor stopped, his eyes brimming with frustration. Inwardly, he was currently struggling with two thoughts. One telling him to use Nier to deal with the crown prince's next attack, another telling him to leave her out of it, and carry on with their respective lives.
Both thoughts clashed within his mind, failing to obtain victory on one another.
He yanked his arm free of her grasp and turned to face her with cold, piercing eyes.
"Who says I'm avoiding you? There needs to be something between us before I need to do so.
But there is nothing.
We're just acquaintances, people who met by chance and whose futures bear no connection whatsoever. I helped you, you helped me, and now we're through.
So stop acting as if I was your bosom friend because I am not."
Konnor's callous words took Nier by surprise, causing a stinging feeling to grow within her chest. Did she hear things well, or did his words get distorted within her mind?
Konnor's eyes held no compassion. He turned heels and was about to leave when once again, her voice stopped him.
"You're lying. I know you must be. I've been in your mind and you in mine. With the link we shared, you cannot deceive me!
I certainly mean more to you than the…nothing…you're trying to say."
Konnor chuckled.
"Nonsensical. Who is to say that what you saw wasn't just what I allowed you to see.
I initiated the link and controlled it throughout. All that happened was within my grasp.
But since you seem so desperate for a reason, let me give you one. Ilaina is my woman and betrothed, but you're surnamed von Juras. Is that enough?"
With those words, he left.
Nier stood behind, staring dazed at his departing form with a wave of phantasmal blows assaulting her chest. Tears filled and blurred her eyes, but she remained there, like a statue.
"Perhaps I was just being foolish."
...
"Guiding the young ones is truly a daunting task. Why did you do that? That girl was the perfect shield to deflect the crown prince's blows. You've wasted a golden opportunity."
"I don't need her for that."
Konnor replied to the Flame Mark's indignation.
"Hahaha, the more you try to push her away, the more convinced I am that you will soon take her."
"Oh? Why is that?"
"You never wondered why does a princess need to pose as a prince? The answer is quite simple."
"…"
...
Afterward, Konnor welcomed Zamira and Wulf at the church's entrance and brought them to the Kracht wing to select their lodgings. Of course, Zamira first headed toward Ilaina and Daphne to inquire on their stay.
The rest of the day was uneventful.
Konnor isolated himself and sat cross-legged to cultivate, deepen his mastery o
f the Hundred Flowers Scripture, and further analyze his new abilities. The second day passed by in a flash, and it was now time for the second round to begin.