Devouring Monarch: Rebirth of the Profane Phoenix - Chapter 497

Chapter 497: Calm Before the Storm
From the moment Vela and Asura appeared, the battle ended. Tremendous explosions and flames burned the undead monsters, yet the glade remained untouched by the dragon’s breath.

No matter how resilient and fearsome the undead legion might have seemed. The moment the undead couldn’t resist the breath of Xavida seemed to spell their end.

‘Phew… it seems they are all here.’

‘Should I rush to them, or wait for that excited girl to come down?’

Asura thought while watching Xavida, who carried several Valkyrie and the Vela on her back.

“It seems I should clear the ground and wait for her to calm down… haha.”

Instead, he pushed his army towards where the sword saintess and the valkyries were fighting to push the undead back to the border.

‘I cannot believe that the lands ahead… have become like this.’

‘These damn undead.’

Angry at the devastated land and corrupted wasteland created past the border of the Phoenix Glade. Asura himself led a devastating attack across the ground. He found his new magic could resist and protect the army from the undead magic and disease.

His magic aura rendered their bites useless, stopping the dead from rising as more zombies.

“Oh?”

The moment he arrived close, his army crushed the enemy troops. Sigurd turned her head and noticed his presence, her eyes glowing bright with delight. If there had ever been a bigger boost in the morale of his beloved women and their forces, it would have been now.

‘He’s finally back, the fool left for so long and made me worry.’ Sigurd’s eyes narrowed with a blissful aura. No longer conserving her power, she began to flick blades of silver light. The powerful magic disintegrated the undead horde with a wide smile on her face.

“Crush them; our Prince has returned!”

A bellow from Sigurd caused the forces following her to roar in excitement and a feeling of relief suddenly. The return of the King was something they were dreaming of. Some lost hope in recent days, battling undead who resembled their friends and loved ones…

“Darling is back?!” Xavida roared, her white lighting breath suddenly becoming a wide beam, devastating the undead back line.

“Husband… where?!” Queen Vela’s silver armour looked breathtaking as she held the reigns attached to Xavida’s scales, now hailed as the Silver Dragon Queen.

It felt a wind of rejuvenation now covering the Phoenix Glade.

Five hours later, only the living remained in the Phoenix Glade, and the undead became nothing but piles of ash and dirt.

Though they succeeded today, the main force of the Demon Empire used stronger undead and special zombies like liches and zombie dragons.

Luckily, those were still held at bay by Drakkur and Fenix’s combined armada.

For now, at least…

***

Queen Vela sat on a comfortable throne while a Valkyrie in a maid outfit wiped her brow. Across from her was the handsome Asura with his silver hair and eyes, wearing the elven-style armour from Celine and the orcish fur cloak from Spica.

“It has been too long, Earl Asura… I didn’t think you would return.”

Despite her cold and slightly angry voice, her trembling lips told him how she felt, a feeling of excitement and happiness to see him alive.

Vela tried to keep her calm, yet the tears building in her eyes were a giveaway.

‘She looks so beautiful, and mature now… How could I have left her for so long?’

No longer did the rules or rotation the women came up with fill his mind; he respected the hard work and efforts of these wonderful women. Especially the new queen, who took on a grave responsibility after her mother became sick and bedridden.

“Your Majesty, Asura Phoenix has returned to your side! Forgive me for the long delay.”

Instead of acting like her husband and prince, he knelt on one knee and pushed his fist to the ground, showing deep respect.

This woman was his wife, but first, he wanted to acknowledge her efforts and achievements.

‘This is the woman I remember from my previous life. He felt the honour and feeling of worship before her death.’

‘Finally, even without me Vela… you’ve become such an amazing woman.’

However, unlike what he expected, the facade of her royal atmosphere crumbled as tears streamed down her face.

“Who cares about your delay… as long as you are okay, My King… I dearly missed you. Now stand, and sit beside me… this is your place, not down on the floor.”

Asura could only smile while facing her captivating figure—his sudden change made Vela feel bashful, although he was charming with black hair and crimson eyes. The new Asura felt somehow divine or like a holy beast in human skin.

The women watching were all Asura’s lovers and Fiancee’s—thus, their jealousy could be felt. Almost tangible in the air, yet he didn’t stop while approaching the queen with a calm yet satisfied smile. He stopped a few inches from her and leaned closer.

“You’ve become such a marvellous woman; despite being a young mother, you’ve fought well.”

His gentle and affectionate whisper caused her cheeks to flush red. Vela gazed up at her husband before his lips gently pecked her forehead, with his hands grasping her cheeks.

“Let’s talk in detail later, my wife.”

Asura then sat beside Queen Vela. His eyes narrowed with a cold, sharp gaze. However, he clasped her hand as a show of affection.

‘There is no need to care about the previous traditions.’

‘Life is too short.’

“Welcome back, His Highness the King!”

“Glory to the Kingdom of Silvara!”

Soldiers, nobles and even the surviving commoners all cheered despite the widespread damage and destruction that covered the land.

His return was a symbol they could win.

‘Since they still respect me after I failed them… I believe this is where we should return the favour Noir.’

[Mm~ I was tired of waiting for when you’d speak to me. Did you know, father? I want you to lay my roots in the palace, but here, I have many seedlings to plant! Hehe.]

‘Forgive me, I didn’t know how to explain to the elves… that you weren’t just a simple world tree.’

‘But, technically, my daughter…’

[Ehehe~ so I am your daughter for real now? You accept me?]

‘Well, inside you is Me, Mu Xue, Spica and Celine’s power and genes right? You want to save everyone, from the humans, elves, and even the orcs, right?’

The people watched in confusion as Asura lifted his hands, and suddenly, a black seedling appeared in his palm.

Their eyes watched the seedling glowing with a silver and red light.

[Since this is where Daddy was born, you want to bestow the land with your protection and help the people become stronger, right?!]

‘Yes, please, my daughter I leave this up to you.’

Suddenly, the land began to shake; a beautiful mixture of silver and red formed the image of a phoenix and silver Valkyrie dancing around the seedling that ascended into the air.

It floated towards the centre of the Phoenix Glade, where the once beautiful tree of the Fenix Clan stood, now burned, damaged and dying.

“Allow me to introduce the power of my first daughter. Noir, the world tree nymph.”

Asura’s voice caused a sudden eruption of chaos, both excitement and jealousy from his lovers; even Vela seemed to tighten the grip of their hands, stabbing him with her nails…

Then, a magical sight appeared.

Noir’s new tree suddenly spouted.

The roots began to bore into the land, deep to a depth no other creature could find, and then the beautiful silver bark emitted a divine yet calming light.

It enveloped every member of the army, as well as those who belonged to Silvara. Their bodies felt a sense of rejuvenation and warmth before the leaves began to form…

Crimson, like Asura’s previous eyes, the leaves themselves seemed to be made of fire!

“Please accept the blessing of the world tree. A wonder lost to our people, after the elven continent spread in the great sundering!”

Asura’s words and voice caused Vela and Sigurd to look stunned; Helliana and Lorem both smirked as even their bodies felt a sense of comfort.

“Let this tree protect you all for generations to come.”

[I am Mizora – Guardian of the Glade]

[Let me give my grace and love to the people who protected this beautiful land.]

[The Phoenix Glade wishes to show her thanks for your great service and sacrifice!]

‘So this is technically my grandchild? Mizora… the tree of a Phoenix and the Asura bloodline looks amazing and graceful!’

[Hehe~ Thank you, grandfather!]

[Hey… Mizora, don’t speak to father so easily!]

[Fufu~ oh mother, how could I be so rude? Forgive me for being so excited!]

[Hmph!]

Mizora had quite an elegant and slightly arrogant atmosphere… It reminded him of a certain woman who wanted to fight him and a red-haired woman who always remained beside him and waited for him…

‘Mizora, take care of the people here. I will make sure to visit often, so show me your figure in the future okay?’

[Ehehe~]

Suddenly, a pretty young girl in a black dress, who looked barely eight or nine, appeared from the tree. Her hair, long and silver, with fiery crimson eyes, floated towards the King and queen.

Asura could tell this girl carried his bloodlines despite being a tree… and he noticed that her blessing extended to Lorem’s stomach and someone in the far distance.

‘It’s most likely going to bless the daughter inside Ignis and the girls Vela gave birth to.’

“Asura, who is that little girl?”

“Ah… it seems she is technically my grandchild somehow? It’s a little confusing and I’ll explain everything in the future, okay?”

“Mm… I will wait, it seems you have quite the adventure…”

Vela’s face didn’t look happy despite smiling, and this caused Asura to feel cold sweat down his back. However, right now, he felt Noir’s intention.

‘Using my bloodlines… you created several pseudo world tree’s all to bless my unborn and born children.’

[It’s the least I could do when you allowed me this most magnificent home and body. Father!]

A nymph who lived in a world tree…

That existence itself was quite special, and the fact she desired to be a planet in the real world. Asura also understood that he wouldn’t lose his power because she only desired to move the physical aspect of the tree.

She wouldn’t remove the spiritual aspect, and the heart of the world tree fused with his body and soul.

‘All so that I won’t die… and neither will she.’

[Though it’s going to be a little strange, all your children will live much longer lives…]

[Even the people who couldn’t surpass Stage One before will be able to reach at least Stage Five over the next year or two. Their bodies will naturally start to grow stronger.]

Asura realised the significance of a world tree…

Yet, thanks to the monoliths and his strange power.

Noir used that to create five different world trees that applied to all the current races residing in the kingdom of Silvara.

‘No, it feels like she’s aiming for the future when Silvara becomes an empire and joins with the south, east and north!’

“It seems that I won’t have a day of rest, despite coming home… haha.”

“No~ you won’t my beloved husband you have yet to meet the little ones.”

“Oh? Plural… so we have two?”

“Mmm~ let’s hurry home to meet them okay?”

“First we should address the people… the king and queen shouldn’t flirt like this haha…”

“Hmph… you’re no fun, Asura!”

The people could only bitterly watch as the King and Queen whispered to each other for several minutes, blessed with a good relationship. Yet, ignoring royal decorum caused the maids and various nobles to become embarrassed.