Devouring Monarch: Rebirth of the Profane Phoenix - Chapter 444

Chapter 444: Gathering the threads of fate
An army of seven thousand troops mounted on horseback travelled across the dark, damp mud. The races of battle and Asura’s berserk flame linger in the once-green woodland. Now, a place of death and silence.

“Amalia, how long ago did the battle end?”

Lorem’s sharp gaze, keen and observant, watched the distance as she looked out the window of her carriage. They had passed the city of Lyndwrym the day before and were now travelling through the ruined wasteland that used to be part of the southern monster kingdoms.

‘Asura will be angry—however, I couldn’t help it. The enemy outnumbers his troops far too much, and I couldn’t let him fight alone, even if it might cause international issues.’ The selflessness in Lorem’s decision was clear: a sacrifice she would make for the greater good.

She held a hand over her stomach with a bitter smile. The day before, their caravan could sense a clash of both armies from this distance, and thus Lorem increased their pace.

“It’s been at least fifteen hours, though I can sense the ground’s tremors, and the enemy’s army should arrive within the next two days, maybe sooner.” The anticipation of the enemy’s arrival was thick in the air, adding to the heavy feeling of doom.

Amalia joined the group because of Princess Vela who pleaded for her to take the remaining Valkyrie troops to support Asura.

However, she would have preferred to bring more people. The threat of Shang Luo was too great. After he vanished from the capital, even Mu Xue and Mu Yue struggled to find traces of him. It seemed after meeting that strange merchant reported by the queen’s spies. He just vanished without a trace.

‘If only those sisters could have joined, even Xavida. The enemy seems to be intent on destroying the remnants from the Monster Kingdoms.’ Amalia thought to herself, remembering the previous meeting with the princess and queen before being briefed on this mission.

‘Brother Asura… are you well?’

“Understood, fifteen hours. Then, we will take a brief break to rest the horses and then depart once more. Amalia, can you inform the Valkyrie of our plans?”

Lorem was the highest-ranking knight and was commanding this army, yet she still respected that the Valkyrie would only follow the orders of another Valkyrie above them or their master.

Since these were Valkyries sworn to the princess, they only followed Amalia because she was the sister of their master’s husband.

“I will tell them right away, sister.” Amalia’s white wings unfurled as she flung herself from the carriage and headed towards the rear flanks. That was where the Valkyrie slowly flew beside the supply groups and other needed non-combat groups.

***

Meanwhile, inside the Emerald encampment. A tall, slim male with a weathered face and long brown hair stood in a tent leaning over a desk filled with vials, beakers and bubbling mixtures of fluid while he examined various blood samples.

This man was Felix Altra, a former scientist from the kingdom of Silvara who experimented and examined divine beasts.

However, an incident caused his honour and research to be labelled as heresy. He was cast out from the academy of Silvara and banned from ever regaining his title as a researcher of all things magical.

‘Those fools believed my work to be profane! I merely created magical beasts and fused them with humans and other creatures! My work is divine. I am a chosen one.’ These were his thoughts and words the day he was kicked from the academy.

Felix Altra escaped execution after being cut down by a Royal Knight’s blade. Once he fled to the east, the kingdom of Silvara lost their chance to end his life.

His last words were a curse, swearing to develop something that would kill the filthy nation that betrayed him and his research.

“Doctor Felix, how is the medicine coming along?” An eastern warrior entered his tent with a cold face. His black hair was tied in a ponytail while showing the emblem of the Emerald Emperor on his chest, showing the empire’s king trusted this man.

“Ah, if it isn’t Wang Wu. I have managed to create several samples. They should boost the troop’s strength and ability, but the finishing touches are needed to remove the side effects.”

“Heh, Felix, who cares about the side effects. These drugs will be used on the lowest class, those who will die anyway. The commoners, the poor, criminals or asylum seekers.”

“Indeed, even the people of your great empire are a necessary sacrifice for our cause. Now, let us see…”

The two men, one a mad doctor and the other a ruthless killer, started their research together.

‘Those Silvaran fools were too soft and weak. This man and his clan have helped my research reach a level unheard of before. Soon, not only my barriers but the very water of this world will purge those disgusting monsters from this world. To a world of only humans, what a glorious and beautiful future!’

While his thoughts were sinister and twisted, the doctor could not help but have a small, somewhat deranged smile form at the corners of his mouth.

‘To think that this Doctor Felix would be forced into a situation like this, being at the mercy of another man, however, if the Wang clan believes me to be their slave. Oh, how they should never lower their guard. I will not be chained down and will eliminate all who try to get in the way of my research!’

His smile was the exact opposite of his true thoughts.

“Soon, this will be finished, and I can finally use those with any divine beast bloodline; thanks to this, your troops need not suffer the damage from that monstrosity of a prince any longer.”

“Do you think you can control them?”

“Control is a little difficult for now, but with this, we can force them to avoid combat, maybe becoming submissive because of the immense pain they will endure just coming into contact with this corrupted blood. Ah~ forgive me, this ‘divine’ blood.”

Felix and Wang Wu sat opposite each other. With the words of Felix, Wang Wu felt at ease and soon left the room.

‘Yes, perfect. This should be enough. A combination of a forbidden technique and the divine beast’s power is a fascinating subject, and this is the perfect test for the new medicine. If only I had time to study more.’

The doctor was ecstatic.

His first medicine was used to create the core of the anti-beast magic barrier that would force any creature with mixed blood to suffer as if they were being torn apart. Yet that wasn’t enough. He wanted something that could kill them fast, with more pain.

Now, he was making the second phase of his medicine, and a few dozen soldiers and refugees had been kidnapped from the opposing armies.

‘Now, to finish the medicine and see which of these beasts will survive… Oh? This one, a tiger hybrid, seems interesting.’

From that moment on, the screams and howls of beasts continued into the night. Despite the noise, most of the empire’s army seemed without remorse and felt nothing from their cries. Instead, the troops stood around with dull eyes, void of any light or emotion.

***

Oblivious to the fate closing in on them were the troops who spent the night before enjoying a temporary victory.

“Brother, can you not eat a little faster?”

“Hehe, I’m sorry, Brother. My body is not like yours. I will always be a little slower and smaller. You know this.”

Asura and Gaius were eating a hearty meal after they both collapsed in their tents after the battle ended. Neither of them would accept rest until the scouts and replacement troops from the city of Arachneas arrived.

Now, the pair were eating rapidly, both of them seeming to compete to see who could devour their meal the fastest.

“Chew more, or you’ll choke, my Lord!”

A petite and charming woman with small pointed ears and fluffy black hair rushed over and scolded Asura.

She looked beautiful as her jet-black pupils stared at him with displeasure; last night, because of how exhausted everyone was, the only woman who spent the night in his tent was Lucia.

However, she was irritated at how he was suddenly fine after using her body, now covered in the marks from his lips, as he seemed to have become pent up with frustration from the battle. ‘Although it was amazing… my main body is so sore it’s still lying in his bed!’

Lucia, who would have been his childhood bride, instead became his shadow, always protecting him after she regained her memories and past.

However, because she fell in love with Asura as both Loretta and Lucia, she now found herself always pampering him despite his devilish side. “My prince, think more of your image… Look at how those ladies are shocked.”

“Kya~ the prince looked this way!”

“Fufu, he is eating like a wild beast. I wish he’d eat me like that~ Imagine how good it would feel.”

“Ah?! Astoria, you perverted woman! Get back to work!”

Many of the Arachne seemed to have grown fond of the Prince and members of SIlvara—in fact—two knights had already been captured by their respective brides a few weeks before.

“Oh? But the only woman here I care about is you, Lucia.” Asura smiled mischievously after he grabbed her and pulled her to his lap, nibbling her ear. “I can eat you all I want. And you, do you not like my wild side?”

‘I know she complained, but it was her that attacked me in bed with three of her shadows… It’s not my fault they are all linked to her main body and caused her to faint several times.’

“Stop~ not in front of others!” Lucia whispered into his ear, her face red with embarrassment, yet her arms did not move from his waist as she hid her face in his chest.

“Ha-ha, brother, you two are so lovey-dovey, it almost makes me sick,” Gaius spoke honestly, which Asura always appreciated, but then he remembered how Gaius was around his wives, lifting his lips into a grin.

“Have you forgotten how you were with those lovely wives of yours, Gaius?”

“Pfft, you speak as if I can help it, brother.” Gaius shook his head helplessly, remembering the affectionate and shy faces of his beloveds as they all slept in a heap next to him the night before he departed. “My wives are just too cute and loving! Hahahaha.”

“Haha, I can attest to that. Are you faring well after the battle? How many brothers are wounded?”

“Ugh… My Brother, fifteen, passed on within the glory of battle, while fifty are still too injured to fight further. Though they are adamant, they can still fight. What should we do with those fools?”

“Let’s take it one step at a time, Lucia. Can you have the healers focus on the wounded orcs? They would regret it forever to be in bed when their lord enters the battle.”

“Yes, My Prince.”

It seemed like the world had become calm.

However, each person knew this was the calm before the storm, and soon, this small portion of the world would be engulfed in a powerful flame.

The flame of war.