Devouring Monarch: Rebirth of the Profane Phoenix - Chapter 284

Chapter 284: Royal Marriage – Binding The Families II
Asura sat in his private residence in the western area of the palace. Beautiful flowers and vivid flora spread across the terrace and the outer walls surrounding his room. He watched the moon sway across the sky while mulling over his past few months.

‘Yet soon, I will be a husband. The reality feels so surreal.’

The quiet croak of the frogs and chirping cicadas echoed, creating a song to help him focus.

Asura’s eyebrows twitched slightly as his ears caught a rhythmic tapping of the boots. He felt someone approaching the terrace. ‘Who walks around the palace like a monster!?’

The steps were like an ogre trampling through the dirt until his door suddenly opened with a bang. A glimpse of fiery red before a stocky man with a few grey whiskers lunged at him with tears in his eyes.

‘My beloved son is getting married!’ The words, heavy with emotion, hung in the air, shattered by the joyful look on his father’s face. The sharp stubble from an earlier shave hurt Asura’s perfectly smooth cheeks.

“Dad!?” he growled and struggled to wriggle out of his embrace. His father only strengthened his grip, not letting him go. “Why are you so enthusiastic!?”

The older man gripped him as if trying to catch his breath before answering, “My son!” Then lifted Asura off the ground, his legs kicking before his father performed a German suplex, smashing Asura onto the floor with a bang.

“It’s that painful being able to call my son in such an endearing manner!” A powerful, muscular back Asura had never seen covered his line of sight.

“So… You are happy. Came here and attacked me. Why?” Asura pressed down the blood threatening to come out of his head before catching his breath.

“Well, of course, I am happy! After all, your marriage was quite troublesome. There are so many girls, and I worried some might stab you if you didn’t choose them. Hahaha!”

His father sat on the floor and explained, “For me, it wasn’t easy to accept since you are my first child! Well, if there were too many women, I would have welcomed it, but thinking about my firstborn marrying someone was a shock. Fortunately, there is just one…”

Asura’s eyebrow twitched. “In fact, there was no need to worry since I plan to marry all of them.”

Suddenly, with the most sincere and serious look that his father had ever given him, Garrett grasped his son by the shoulders and looked into his crimson eyes.

“Son, Don’t!”

“…”

Asura tilted his head slightly and pondered over his father’s words. ‘… Odd, was he against it? That doesn’t sound like Dad at all!’

A voice sounded in his ear.

“One woman is enough to test a man’s limits; what will you do with all of those women who pine after you!? My son, you will die!”

‘This is more like dad, joking around and being a little silly.’ Asura narrowed his eyes, his thoughts coming to a halt before pushing his father away.

“Dad, listen to yourself! ‘To test a man’s limits?’ What is this, a lesson on your lack of skills in bedding, Mom?”

“Listen well, Asura, if I were to even think of getting another woman…” He then used his thumb, sliding across his neck, poking out his tongue and acting dead.

“Eh, Mother Ophelia is so kind and gentle. She wouldn’t do that.”

“She would!” His father said sternly, then suddenly broke into a wry smile. “See? Your mom is different in public compared to when we are alone!”

Asura frowned, shaking his head, his voice carrying a hint of disbelief. “No way…”

“Son, look at me! In front of the Queen, I am a cool and charismatic man; however, once alone, your mom turns me into a stick! So, no other women!”

“Hahaha, Dad, sorry. I will marry all the women who have supported me. Even if that fate of being stabbed becomes a reality.”

Garrett let out a helpless sigh as his son stood up, pushing him away.

“Hey! Brat! Do you know what you are saying!? If they had all stayed single, that would have been great, but now you’re bringing them all to the same bed. Make sure your little man can take the heat! If you get ED and I have no grandchildren, you will die!”

“Xavida already has twins. Stop being so annoying.”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk… Asura, marry and have a child with every wife; don’t just ignore one and favour another!”

“…”

He burst out in laughter before shooting out of the door with a slam; the way his father acted was always strange. Yet Asura felt the nerves about marrying vanished thanks to this. Yet there was a huge package left on the ground… it was over 200cm long and black, with his new emblem on the lock and top of the hard case.

‘What is this?’ He bent down to open the case, revealing a sword. He caressed the blood-red sheath, the leather smooth with a beautiful finish, and pulled out the blade to reveal its otherworldly shine, similar to obsidian.

The gigantic sword was both long and thick; no, this nostalgic sword was almost identical to his father’s, except the etched name and emblem… was [Asura Phoenix, beloved son of Garret Fenix. The hope of the Phoenix Glade.] A small card of paper slipped out when Asura lifted the sword.

“Father’s handwriting…”

—Son,

You will soon become a husband and the Crown Prince of the kingdom. I felt it was time for you to have your sword. Every man needs a sword. I know you carry magic weapons or a soul weapon—I do, too. However, the sword used to defend your territory needs to be iconic.

This is a custom sword, made with help from those crazy dwarves you invited to Wolfsheim! The material is mixed with a magic-absorbing catalyst, and you can channel spells directly through the sword.

I have watched you fight; that form and skill are beyond me. I can only lunge and crush with my power and flames. You are my pride and joy, and I love seeing you step to the level you have no matter what form our bond exists.

You will ALWAYS be my son.

No matter what that woman says, I will never abandon you. Even should you choose to destroy the world, I would stand beside you. Then watch as your mother beats you down and makes you apologise.

***

“Dad.”

Asura sheathed the sword, using the chain from the box, which looked silver and quite elegant for such a big weapon to hold the giant weapon on his back.

‘Damnit Dad!’

Asura wiped the tears out of his eyes, a deep breath of air rumbling up from his chest before he pressed down his growing emotions; his father knew. He knew from the start that there wasn’t any blood between him and Asura. Yet his love, from the moment he was born, even when useless.

“Father never abandoned me or gave up… His love, I cannot forget or shame.”

‘A sword to defend the nation! Hah, his humour is still strong. It’s fine, though. I am happy!’

His hand rubbed over the hilt of the weapon. “Right, I’m going to my training hall to test this…”

“You will be the weapon I use when I fight for my people, my family, and my beloved women. I wonder what is your name?”

Asura tapped his foot, the movement that pushed the ground, his speed increasing and decreasing through mana manipulation until his feet barely grazed the floor. The sensation was pleasant to him, similar to the feeling he got when he was floating on water.

The sword in his hand helped him manage the spells while he could maintain five different spells at once. The sword added a sixth to that mix.

It was not perfect. It was only ‘slightly better than before’. There was no ‘boom. He became a god’ moment. This sword was not a cheat that would fix his problems but a tool to assist him in using his powers more efficiently.

‘Even if it is not flashy, this is a treasure, even if not compared to my spear. My soul weapon. This is great! Dad’s wedding gift was an excellent idea, although a little odd, but why give me a sword now?’

Asura’s body arrived at the training room faster than before, light and fresh, darting towards the edges of the room. Suddenly, he released a spell before grabbing the hilt of the sword and swinging. A simple point and touch of the finger to the tip of the blade was enough to trigger a massive explosion, leaving behind a gigantic crater on the floor.

The room shuddered from the explosive flame, and Asura’s nose filled with the smell of burnt paper and rubber before someone else stepped into the training room.

“Who is here at this time?” he asked and looked over to the door to see a single person.

The Queen of Silvara stepped forward, holding a silver longsword. Her eyes caught Asura, and a smirk appeared on her mouth.

“Prepare yourself!” she spoke softly but had a commanding presence as she charged towards him.

“Wait, a minute!”

“No!”

Her words were like ice as she rushed him without giving him a chance to breathe, let alone respond.

‘Damn it, woman!’

So, without caring for his mother-in-law, he prepared to fight. His eyes blazed with determination as his magic formed in his hands, and the sword reflected the light coming off Asura’s body.

“Brat, I am no pushover. So don’t think I am easy prey!”

“Hmmm?”

His senses were sharper, and his body was no longer tired after using multiple spells. Thanks to the sword, Asura could withstand the sheer magical pressure the Queen exerted because of his body, but today, she didn’t play around. Her full Stage Nine pressure weighed down on him.

The weight on Asura was heavy, but thanks to his physique at the peak of the mortal level, he could resist and endure it without losing speed. His body lunged forward with the gigantic sword, ready to strike.

The blade slammed against her weapon. His physical strength was a match for hers, and although her body was at a higher level than his, she was still at a disadvantage; slipping back several steps like a graceful swan, her body fluttered across the ground, avoiding heavy damage.

“Not bad, my son.”

Asura clicked his tongue and kept up the attacks; his weapon seemed ineffective against her, but it wasn’t necessary since his speed increased while she retreated.

“That’s it. That’s right. Become stronger. Show me you can protect her even if I should perish!”

“Mom!?”

“Asura, from today onwards, I will train you. But don’t think it will be easy.”

The change in attitude took aback Asura.

‘I guess things are okay now…’

The queen lifted her silver sword, and a beautiful silver light enveloped her body, flickering for a moment before forming a vast dome the size of the training grounds.

—Manifestation, Sword Empress Domain

Instantly, the pressure, danger and magic density tripled, and Asura’s pupils dilated as he felt instantaneous danger.

“In this room, no one can save you if I take you down, son. If you want to come out alive, show me you can protect her! Prove that you can defend her if I fall!”

‘This isn’t a what-if scenario. She is serious!’