Chapter 319: Knight In The Game

The moment I touched my heart and connected with the core of the panther, crimson mist surged from my chest and rushed out of my body.

But this time, it didn’t billow upward like smoke. It slithered, coiling low across the ground like a stalking predator, brushing over stone and soil, silent as breath.

The world around me dimmed. The wind stilled to welcome the new member of my group.

The mist pooled at my feet, then began to rise forming a crouched shape.

There was no shriek this time. No grand entrance. Just... a pulse. Like a second heartbeat echoing beneath mine.

And then—

From inside the mist, something began to form.

A large shape, low to the ground, strong and wide.

A curved horn slowly came into view. It was black now, smooth and sharp, twisting in a spiral.

Then came the shoulders, bigger than before. The body was longer, stronger, more solid. Its claws touched the ground next. Long, sharp, and dark like knives.

The panther stepped out of the mist. Its fur was pure black, darker than the shadows. The red mist still clung to it, swirling around its legs and back. Its eyes were bright red and glowing, watching everything.

It didn’t make a sound. Not a growl. Not a breath. Only its tail moved, sweeping left and right through the mist.

It was taller now—its head nearly reached my shoulder. It stopped in front of me and looked straight at me.

The crimson mist curled around its feet like it belonged to it. Its horn glinted. Its muscles were tight and still. It didn’t blink.

Then a single ethereal blue chain extended from my chest, stretching through the air in a soft arc and linking to the base of the beast’s sternum. It shimmered faintly.

And the moment it appeared, I could feel what the beast was feeling.

It didn’t say anything.

I looked straight into its eyes and smiled.

"From now on, I’ll call you... Knight."

A soft hum passed between us.

I checked its level.

[Onca Panther – Level 190]

I gave a nod and whispered, "We’ve got a war coming soon. I’ll call you when it’s time."

With a wave of my hand, I de-summoned it. The crimson mist wrapped around its body and pulled it back into my heart. The air felt still again.

Right then, Azalea appeared beside me in a blink.

"So that’s your new... pet?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah, kind of," I replied.

She nodded, crossing her arms.

"It looks strong. And there’s potential... a lot of it."

I nodded again, not needing to say more.

"We’re ready," she continued. "I’m about to begin the procedure for Steve. Want to stay and watch?"

I shook my head.

"No. The sun’s almost up. I need to get to the Capital."

"Alright then," she said. "See you soon." And just like that, she vanished again.

I closed my eyes and reached out to the realm core, letting my Essence thread connect. I pulled out the coin Dante had given me and activated it. Almost immediately, I felt it, like a red dot glowing in the darkness. A signal. A fixed point near the Capital.

I opened my eyes and waved my hand. A portal formed in front of me.

I stepped through.

When I came out the other side, I was standing a few kilometers outside the Capital. I could see it clearly in the distance—huge, towering, and silent. The massive barrier surrounding it shimmered faintly, like a beast breathing in its sleep.

I spread my perception forward until it stretched out five full kilometers.

"Good," I muttered.

But then.....something else.

A strange feeling just a few meters behind me. I hadn’t felt any Essence. No space fluctuation. Just... a pocket of space sitting there, quiet.

I grinned.

I raised my hand and snapped my fingers.

A ripple of spatial energy spread outward from the snap and hit the hidden pocket. It shimmered, like a stone dropped in water.

I chuckled. "Really bad habit, sneaking up on people, you know."

[Absolute Domain]

My domain expanded instantly, and now I could see it. Someone was hiding inside a layer of folded space.

I pointed a finger, then drew an ’X’ in the air.

For a moment, nothing happened.

Then the ’X’ burned into the air, space itself tore along the lines I’d drawn, slicing open the pocket like paper.

The person was revealed.

An old man.

Big round belly, half sticking out from under his too-small shirt. Bald on top, except for a few lonely hairs on his forehead. Thick glasses. Wrinkled skin. A hunched back.

I honestly didn’t know if I should be surprised, disgusted, or impressed by how impressive this made up look was.

A dry chuckle escaped the man.

"Don’t be cheeky, kid. I can still spank your ass if I feel like it."

I smirked. "Sure, you can. But the real question is—

would

you?"

He blinked at me.

"You saying I wouldn’t dare?"

I shook my head.

"No, old man. I didn’t say that. I just asked... would you?"

He scratched his chin, thoughtful.

"I could. Still deciding whether I should or not."

"Alright," I said with a shrug. "Let me know once you make up your mind. I’ve got places to be."

He let out a rough, exaggerated laugh. "Hohohoh!"

Then his tone shifted. "The Emperor has called for you. Let’s go."

Before I could react, he waved his hand and the world spun.

Everything twisted sideways for a breath, like space had bent. When it settled, I found myself standing in a garden. Flowers bloomed nearby, and the sound of water trickled faintly in the background.

Right in front of me, the Emperor sat beside a small tea table, his posture relaxed but his gaze sharp. He looked straight at me.

I stepped forward and bowed low.

"Your Majesty."

He gave a slow nod.

"Sit down. Let’s have some tea. The day is about to begin."

I moved to the only other chair across from him and sat down.

He poured tea into a small porcelain cup and slid it toward me, then spoke with a calm smile.

"I thought you’d stay longer with your grandmother. Arkas wrote in your file that you’re a bit of a workaholic... but now, I’ve seen it for myself."

I scratched the back of my neck and gave a small laugh.

"Yeah... I guess that’s true."

He raised an eyebrow.

"Guess?"

I chuckled awkwardly.

"Okay, it’s true. I just...like getting stronger."

He sipped his tea, eyes still on me.

"That’s good. But sometimes, slowing down has value too."

I nodded, accepting the cup he poured.

"Understood."

The Emperor leaned back slightly and took a sip of tea.

"Hopefully Dante was helpful to you."

I nodded.

"He was. Though... why does he look like

that

?"

The Emperor raised an eyebrow.

"Like what?"

"You know," I said, gesturing vaguely. "Old. Bald. Belly hanging out. The whole

strange-grandpa-who-has-seen-things

look."

The Emperor laughed softly. "That’s one mystery I haven’t solved myself. He’s been taking that kind of weird forms for decades now.

I’ve told him that more than once," the Emperor said, shaking his head. "He doesn’t care. That’s one thing he refuses to change, no matter what I say."

"So even you can’t convince him?"

He chuckled. "There are some people in this world who obey the rules, and some who

are

the rules. Dante’s the latter. He listens to no one, not even me."

I smirked and lifted my tea. "Comforting."

"It is, in a way," the Emperor replied. "So long as he’s on

our

side."

He glanced out toward the edge of the garden where the light had started spilling in through the hedges, soft and golden.

Then his voice changed—deeper, slower.

"Tell me, Billion," he said. "What do you think will happen if we go to war with the Holts?"