Chapter 631: A Rival Surpassing Lucy?

Imperial Capital, Inside the Imperial Palace.

As Rockto’s forces blocked the main gate, and Capeline led the Broken Blade Knight Order towards the throne room, the entire palace erupted in chaos.

“Stop!”

“Halt!”

Numerous knight units and private armies of nobles, seemingly mobilized to guard the palace, rushed to intercept Capeline and her knights.

“Get out of my way!”

Capeline, determined to settle things today, showed no hesitation, her knight’s sword imbued with crimson magic power as she slashed at the enemies before her.

That swift strike was Capeline’s signature high-level sword skill, [Flashing Sword].

This sword technique, sacrificing defense for extreme attack and speed, bloomed once again in Capeline’s hands.

“Slash! Slash! Slash!”…

With tearing sounds, the knights’ armor and flesh were cut open, and they fell to the ground screaming, blood splattering everywhere.

Capeline decisively cut down the enemies blocking her path, leading the charge.

“Kill!”

“Kill!”

Led by Capeline, the female knights of the Broken Blade Knight Order also showed their ferocity, fearlessly charging towards the oncoming knight units.

A bloody battle erupted in the Imperial Palace.

From above, countless knights and private armies could be seen converging, like ants swarming towards a target.

Capeline’s Broken Blade Knight Order, like a sharp knife, pierced through the encirclement, breaking through the enemy lines and charging towards the throne room.

Capeline was indeed powerful, even without the replica Holy Sword. Although only level seventy, her talent and potential were considered the best in the Empire. Each level she gained brought greater growth than others, and her skill points were also abundant, resulting in high-level skills. Her overall strength was probably no less than those above level eighty.

And experts above level eighty were rare in ordinary knight units and private armies. Such experts in the Empire were either holding important positions in the Imperial Knight Order or were the top experts of their respective families, not casually appearing here.

Therefore, Capeline, without even using her Unique Skill, cut down anyone who stood in her way like a true Valkyrie, leaving only a trail of blood.

With such a ferocious princess leading the charge, the Broken Blade knights also displayed their skills, forming a formation and following closely behind Capeline.

The outer layer of the formation was composed of warriors enhanced by support magic, firmly blocking attacks from all directions.

Inside the formation, female knights chanted various spells, some casting defensive magic to block incoming arrows and magic, and others casting support magic, making the Broken Blade Knight Order unstoppable for the time being.

It could be seen that these female knights were venting their pent-up frustration. After all, they were recently imprisoned in the dungeon, stripped naked and humiliated. Now, finally having a chance for revenge, they showed no mercy, their faces filled with even more killing intent than Capeline.

Diere ran alongside them, like a black wind, her cloak fluttering as she swung her dual blades, also imbued with crimson magic, creating trails of blood and cutting down the surrounding enemies.

Just like that, they charged and broke through, finally encountering true experts.

“Stop, Your Highness.”

“You have committed a grave sin.”

“Such violence within the Imperial Palace cannot be tolerated.”

“Please stop.”

Several powerful figures, exuding immense pressure, blocked their path.

Some were knights in armor, some mages in robes, some wielding swords, some wielding staves, and some even carrying warhammers and lances. Those weapons and equipment also emanated powerful magic fluctuations, indicating they were expensive magic weapons.

Capeline’s face darkened. She knew these people blocking their path were high-level knights from the Imperial Knight Order who supported Mara or Saliro, or the top experts of various noble families.

Some were even heads of their families, and some were Rank 7 adventurers, the highest rank in the Adventurer’s Guild. None of them were simple.

Now, these figures had gathered, the lowest probably above level eighty, and the highest even eighty-nine, only one step away from Legendary Level. The obstacle they presented was no joke.

Even Capeline, having lost the replica Holy Sword, wasn’t sure she could defeat any of them.

However, Capeline didn’t stop.

Not just Capeline, but the entire Broken Blade Knight Order, including Diere, continued their charge without hesitation.

This surprised and angered the experts.

“In that case, we won’t hold back!”

“This is Your Highness’s own doing!”

“Let us stop you!”

“Stop right there!”

The experts above level eighty released their astonishing magic power.

But…

“[Bestowal: Imprisonment].”

With a sudden voice, overwhelming magic power surged, enveloping these experts from various families and factions, suppressing their magic power and locking it within their bodies, preventing them from releasing it.

“What…!?”

“Oh no…!”

“Who…!?”

The experts’ faces changed drastically.

But they were answered by another magic spell.

“[Bestowal: Sleep].”

A subtle magic power, like an invisible hypnotic curse, echoed in their minds.

Their voices ceased abruptly.

Drowsiness overcame them, and they felt an overwhelming urge to sleep.

“This is…”

“How…”

“Is this… possible?”

They muttered in disbelief.

As experts close to Legendary Level, some possessed high-level defensive skills or magic tools that would activate automatically upon being attacked.

But now, these skills and tools either couldn’t withstand this powerful magic or couldn’t even activate.

Afflicted by the “Imprisonment” property of Bestowal Magic, their magic power was sealed, their resistance greatly reduced.

Thus, these experts above level eighty all collapsed, falling asleep, unlikely to wake up anytime soon.

This scene shocked Capeline and the others.

They knew who was responsible.

They also knew that with that person’s strength, these level eighty experts weren’t a major obstacle. That’s why they charged so boldly.

But they didn’t expect him to take down these experts so effortlessly.

“He’s truly become much stronger than before,” Diere’s eyes flickered.

Capeline remained silent.

Shien’s existence put some pressure on her. She had always seen Lucy as her only rival, believing no one else her age in the Human Realm could compare to her.

However, Shien’s appearance proved her wrong.

He not only defeated her mercilessly in Cosmos but had also become even stronger.

She, on the other hand, had lost the replica Holy Sword, her strength decreasing.

Now, she was the one who couldn’t compare to him.

This thought made Capeline’s heart clench.

But now wasn’t the time to think about this.

(After everything is settled, I will train again and challenge him.)

Capeline ignited her fighting spirit, regarding Shien as a rival equal to, or even surpassing, Lucy.

Shien didn’t know he had been targeted by a proud princess. He simply took down the “overconfident” obstacles in his path, appearing and disappearing like a phantom Grim Reaper, teleporting towards the throne room. Those so-called experts on the ground didn’t even catch his attention.

Just like that, they reached the throne room.

And charged inside.

Imperial Palace, Audience Chamber.

In the throne room where the Emperor held audiences and handled state affairs, a single figure stood.

She had no guards.

Her back was to the entrance.

She seemed to be gazing at the throne, the Emperor’s seat, occasionally letting out a chilling chuckle.

“Bang!”

Suddenly, the throne room doors were blasted open.

A large group surged in, instantly filling the room.

Capeline, at the forefront, looked at the barefoot woman with her back to them, her anger and hatred erupting.

“Mara!”

Capeline shouted, her voice echoing through the throne room.

The female knights of the Broken Blade Knight Order also glared at the barefoot woman like she was their enemy.

Shien Buztout and Diere naturally felt the same.

“She’s Mara?” Diere stared at the woman’s back.

“…”

Shien stared intently, activating the observation effect of [Outer Awareness of Heaven’s Decree] to see the barefoot woman’s information.

But he was stunned. He couldn’t see her level, only one skill:

[Symbiosis].

Shien had seen this skill before in Cosmos, during his fight with the Magic Fighters under Danas, the leader of Mirage.

He remembered that this skill only appeared between siblings, especially twins. It allowed them to connect, communicate telepathically, share skills and even life force, and even switch places. A divine skill.

Shien felt uneasy.

Was this barefoot woman really Mara?

Why couldn’t he see her level?

What was with her [Symbiosis] skill?

Why did he have a bad feeling?

Shien suppressed his thoughts and, along with everyone else, stared at the woman. A suffocating silence filled the throne room, and everyone tensed up.

Only Capeline, fueled by rage, stepped forward.

“We meet again, venomous Consort,” she said, her voice filled with hatred.

This woman was a plague on the Empire, the one who persecuted her and her subordinates, the one who caused her mother’s coma and her brother’s house arrest.

New and old hatred, accumulated anger and resentment, erupted at this moment, almost making Capeline lose control.

Mara, however, didn’t turn around. She even gestured for those chasing after Capeline, about to enter the throne room, to stop.

Every move she made exuded an indescribable charm, an eerie allure like a poppy, poisonous yet captivating.

Finally, Mara turned around.

“Congratulations on your escape, Princess Capeline,” she said with a smile, “I thought you wouldn’t appear on this stage. It seems I underestimated you.”

Capeline, instead of feeling complimented, felt insulted, glaring at Mara.

Mara’s sweet tone couldn’t hide her sarcasm and contempt.

Yes. Mara genuinely looked down on Capeline, even with her army at the doorstep.

“In my script, a princess like you, who thinks she’s special and prides herself on being a Hero descendant, wasn’t even qualified to witness all of this. You were supposed to meet your end in that dark dungeon, dying miserably, or even turned into an ugly undead, a mindless puppet.”

𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Mara’s words were venomous.

“I truly didn’t expect you to be rescued. As expected of a Hero descendant, always so lucky.”

Mara continued to taunt Capeline.

“You…!?”

Capeline, successfully provoked, wanted to charge forward and cut off Mara’s head.

But Shien stopped her.

“Don’t go,” he said, still staring at Mara, “This venomous Consort seems to have more tricks up her sleeve than we thought. It’s best not to act rashly.”

Shien didn’t think Capeline could defeat Mara. Especially now, a strange magic power was gathering around Mara, telling Shien something was amiss.

He didn’t want Capeline to die.

But Mara turned her gaze to Shien, her eyes gleaming.

“Shien Buztout,” she said, calling his name, as if she had been waiting for this moment for a long time, “We finally meet.”

This was undoubtedly the first time they met face to face.

“I’ve been watching you for a long time.”

Mara’s laughter became increasingly eerie. She was clearly very interested in Shien.

“Indeed, we finally meet,” Shien narrowed his eyes, smiling faintly, “I’ve also heard a lot about you, and even received your ‘care,’ Your Imperial Consort.”

Shien was referring to the incident in Cosmos. Mara was the mastermind behind the chaos on the Kingdom and Empire border, attempting to unseal Lilith and the Dark Temple. She colluded with the Old Demon Faction Mirage and seemed to have a deep connection with the Original Demon. She even threw Beatrice, in her demigod state, at him, almost getting him killed.

Since then, they became enemies.

Mara seemed to remember this as well.

“That wasn’t my idea,” Mara clarified, “I truly didn’t expect that having a few borrowed magical beings throw the Evil God’s other half at a Kingdom noble, causing conflict between the Kingdom, the Beastmen priests, and even the Empire, such a trivial game, would attract someone like you.”

This was the truth.

Shien could tell.

But he also sensed something else from Mara’s words.

She seemed to know something about him.

Could it be…

“You know me?”

Shien’s gaze pierced Mara like a sword. This time, he wasn’t referring to his existence, but his true identity.

A Hero from another world.

Mara’s tone suggested she knew.

“Yes,” Mara smiled, “I saw it with my own eyes in Cosmos.”

Then, Mara’s tone changed, becoming strange and manic. Her smile disappeared, replaced by disgust, as if she had seen something filthy.

“I saw that disgusting light of the Holy Sword.”

As she said this, the strange magic power around Mara intensified.

Shien sensed this clearly, but he didn’t panic.

Although he hadn’t expected Mara to know his identity, it wasn’t the most important thing right now.

Even Diere remained silent, seemingly observing coldly, but she was probably carefully studying Mara, looking for an opening, right?

Capeline, however, frowned.

“Light of the Holy Sword?”

She clearly didn’t understand.

Unfortunately, no one explained it to her.

Shien simply looked at Mara and said, “It seems you really hate Heroes, just like the rumors say.”

“Hate? How can you call it hate?” Mara corrected him righteously, “You should say hatred, resentment, anger, even a curse, disdain.”

Mara extended a delicate hand towards Shien, her voice echoing like a ghost from the abyss.

“Truly, I can’t wait to tear all Heroes to pieces and kill them all.”

As she spoke, the strange magic power around Mara suddenly surged, turning into a tangible black aura. The black aura fluctuated violently, and faces full of pain appeared within it.

“Death energy?” Shien’s eyes narrowed in surprise.

At this moment, Mara’s previously unclear and unobservable level suddenly became visible and began to skyrocket.

Lv.1…

Lv.10…

Lv.40…

Lv.70…

Lv.90…

Mara’s level soared, easily surpassing level ninety, entering Legendary Level, and finally stopping at a certain level.

—”Lv.100.”

Yes. Mara was a Limit Level expert.

And her skill list also changed, showing two skills:

—[Necromancy].

—[Greater Spirit of Death].

These two familiar skills appeared on this venomous Consort.

“You…!?”

Capeline and Diere seemed to sense something, their expressions changing slightly.

At the same time, the death aura on Mara suddenly erupted.