My Love Debts Are Everywhere - Chapter 435

Chapter 435: A Sudden Shift
*Boom!*

A massive explosion of holy power erupted from her body, obliterating everything around her—except for her three sisters.

Like a furious dragon, the blast tore through the inner palace ceiling and surged into the sky.

The sky, which had briefly cleared after Liliana’s terrifying pressure faded, was once again swallowed by dense dark clouds.

This time, the dark clouds didn’t just engulf the demon race’s territory—they stretched over human and dragon lands as well.

In the capital, demons who had just begun to relax were once again startled by the sudden shift in the skies.

“Damn it! What now? Why is the sky dark again?” A demon exclaimed in horror.

“I don’t know! Maybe it’s Demon Emperor Liliana all over again. I heard there’s an annual meeting today—maybe some higher-ups angered her, and now she’s throwing a rampage,” the demon beside him replied nervously.

“No, this might not be Demon Emperor Liliana’s doing!” Another demon interjected seriously. “These clouds feel stronger and more ominous than before. Besides…”

He pointed at the sky, where black, red, and purple lightning crackled relentlessly. “I clearly remember there were no lightning bolts like this last time. This could be an enemy attack!”

His reasoning sent waves of panic through the surrounding demons. They were just ordinary demons with no real power.

All they could do was hope that whatever was coming wouldn’t drag them into danger—or worse, death.

…

Among the four cities in the Golden Quadrangle, Atheris was the most prosperous, surpassing Valdor, Norathis, and Thavalor.

Its growth was fueled by advanced infrastructure and major trade routes connecting it to numerous surrounding cities, including the other three in the Golden Quadrangle.

Its strategic location on the western side of Astralyn, the capital of the Holy Empire of Elysium, was also a key factor in its prosperity.

Unlike the other three cardinal directions—each bordering demon territory—the west marked the boundary between the Holy Empire of Elysium and the Holy Orthodoxy, ensuring far greater security.

With much of Astralyn in ruins and in urgent need of reconstruction, Leon, Valen, Luna, and Athena temporarily relocated to Atheris to rest.

Meanwhile, Arshley, Albert, and Adam led the army to clean up the devastation in the capital.

“This is really cozy…”

Sinking into the plush sofa, Leon felt his exhaustion slowly fade away.

Although he hadn’t exerted much strength in his fight against the Second Apostle, that didn’t mean he wasn’t exhausted.

For days, he had barely rested, his mind consumed with finding a way to overthrow Velix’s rule as smoothly as possible.

He didn’t want unnecessary bloodshed, so he spent countless nights searching for a solution, staying up late until exhaustion overtook him.

With a deep sigh, Leon glanced around the grand parlor. Expensive paintings adorned the walls, while intricately carved statues of women stood elegantly in every corner.

The mansion he resided in was one of the largest and most luxurious in Atheris. Naturally, it belonged to him.

As he had said before, he was incredibly rich, with countless assets spread across the Holy Empire of Elysium and the Holy Orthodoxy.

Most of these riches came from Velix, given as rewards for his countless victories against the demon race in the past.

Despite his hatred for Velix, he had to admit—the man had been generous.

“Leon, I prepared some tea for you.”

Just then, Athena’s calm yet gentle voice reached him. Leon smiled and turned toward her.

“Thank you,” Leon replied softly, accepting the cup of tea.

“You’re welcome.” Athena set her own teacup on the table before gracefully sitting beside him.

“How do you find the atmosphere here? Are you comfortable living in this mansion?” Leon inquired as he took a sip of his tea.

Athena chuckled and leaned her head against his shoulder, her tone playful. “To be honest, I don’t really care where I live. As long as you’re with me, I’ll be comfortable.”

Leon: “…”

He hadn’t expected Athena—the Dragon Empress, known for her coldness and cruelty—to say something so sweet.

“You have quite the way with words, Athena. I think I can drink this tea without sugar now,” Leon teased, lifting her chin with his index finger.

Athena was stunned to have her teasing met in kind. With slightly puffed cheeks, she buried her face in Leon’s broad chest and hugged him tightly.

“Then stay with me forever,” she murmured flirtatiously. “That way, you’ll never need sugar in your tea again.”

Leon merely chuckled, resting his chin on Athena’s head as he gently rubbed her back, the thin fabric of her red gown barely shielding her from his touch.

“Don’t worry, we’ll be together forever,” he assured her solemnly.

Since Athena was already his, there was no way he would leave her.

Of course, sooner or later, he would have to tell her about his relationship with Liliana—and the existence of his three daughters.

*Boom!*

Just as the atmosphere between them grew warmer, a deafening clap of lightning suddenly shook the sky, startling them both.

“Is it going to rain?” Leon muttered in surprise. “But the sky was clear and bright just moments ago…”

Athena slowly pulled away from his embrace and replied nonchalantly, “Well, rain does come unexpectedly sometimes.”

Her casual remark eased Leon’s doubts. He smiled faintly, about to say something—when suddenly, his heart skipped a beat.

His expression tensed, his body trembling slightly.

Sensing something was off, Athena frowned. “Leon? What’s wrong?”

But Leon didn’t respond. Instead, he clutched his chest tightly, his breath coming in ragged gasps, pain twisting across his face.

Suddenly…

*Buzz!*

The golden, star-shaped Hero’s Destiny on Leon’s forehead flared to life.

In an instant, a surge of holy power erupted from his body, blasting everything around him.

Caught off guard, Athena was sent flying. She crashed into the mansion wall with a thunderous “boom!”

Moments later, she emerged from the rubble, her appearance disheveled. Her gown was torn, and her usually neat, flowing hair was now a tangled mess.

Fortunately, her body was strong—strong enough that the impact barely hurt her.

But none of that mattered. Right now, her only concern was Leon.

As she lifted her head, she saw Leon hovering at the center of the mansion, his eyes glowing with an intense light while the golden star on his forehead shone brilliantly.

A powerful surge of holy energy enveloped his body, spiraling upward into the sky.

Behind him, the Great Sword of Chaos and the Holy Sword of Zenith floated, radiating a dazzling contrast of black and white light.

Athena’s eyes widened, her heart pounding wildly.

“What’s happening!?”

——

A/N: Ahem! Don’t forget your support! It means a lot to me~ ≽^•⩊•^≼