Chapter 454: The Demon Emperor Appears! (1)

"Horns? How is that possible?" Cassian staggered backward in disbelief.

He rubbed his face and felt his skin rough, like the scales of a fish.

His face reddened as he roared, "Demon Emperor Zerathos! What have you done to me? Why has my appearance changed like this?!"

Being scolded like that, Zerathos grew furious.

"I didn’t do it on purpose! It happened because I directly took over your body to block that woman’s attack!"

If he hadn’t acted, Cassian would have died on the spot.

Yet instead of gratitude, Cassian blamed him, which only deepened Zerathos’s resentment.

"You..." Cassian wanted to retort, but the words caught in his throat. He realized there was no way out.

His physical changes led to one unavoidable conclusion—he was working with a demon.

No matter how much he denied it, he couldn’t escape that accusation.

A plan that had nearly succeeded suddenly collapsed in an instant. The frustration was unbearable.

"Why are you silent, Cassian?" Elina smirked. "Didn’t you tell everyone that I was the culprit?"

Her words pierced his heart like a blade. Cassian tried to speak, but Elina interrupted him.

"Father, the truth is that Cassian has been working with a demon."

Ragan, overwhelmed by grief and disbelief, was clearly shocked. The same went for everyone else present.

All eyes turned to Elina, waiting for her explanation.

Cassian trembled with fear, shaking his head as he screamed, "What nonsense are you talking about, Elina? Don’t slander me!"

He charged at her, his face twisted with anger.

He had no idea how Elina could have discovered his deepest secret.

If it were exposed, it would destroy him completely.

Boom!

A crushing force slammed down on him from above.

Both his legs shattered, and his body was pinned to the ground with unbearable pressure.

"Argh!" Cassian growled in pain, struggling with every ounce of strength.

But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t break free.

Summoning his remaining strength, he looked up and saw the culprit—the mysterious masked woman.

"W-Why... are you doing this...!?"

He didn’t know who she was, yet everything had fallen apart because of her.

If she hadn’t appeared, Elina would have been destroyed and sentenced to death by her father.

Only one last chance remained—and it had already failed halfway.

"Be quiet and watch yourself be destroyed," Malverna said coldly.

It was unclear who she was speaking to, but one thing was certain: her gaze didn’t fall on Cassian alone. Zerathos, trapped inside him, felt it too.

It was as if the woman could see him and speak directly to him.

Ragan’s eyes widened at the sight of Cassian pinned to the ground. Yet his attention was fixed on Elina.

"Tell me quickly—what do you mean Cassian is working with the demon?!" he demanded.

Under everyone’s piercing gaze, Elina began explaining everything to her father.

Her story wasn’t long—she had summarized it—but it was powerful enough to shake everyone’s beliefs.

"I-It’s impossible! My son is working with a demon! This must be a mistake!"

A stunningly beautiful woman pushed through the crowd.

She fell to her knees in front of Ragan, clutching his right thigh, tears streaming down her face.

"Your Majesty! Please, don’t believe him! My son could never commit such a crime! Please, Your Majesty!"

The woman—none other than Claren, Cassian’s mother—pleaded desperately, her sobs heart-wrenching.

"Mother..." Cassian’s voice trembled.

It was the first time he had seen her cry like this. His heart felt as if hundreds of swords were piercing it at once.

Ragan looked at his wife with a pained expression, but given what had happened at the party, he couldn’t forgive Cassian so easily.

"Guards, take Consort Claren away!"

Claren’s eyes widened in shock, and she clutched his thigh even tighter.

"No, Your Majesty! You can’t do this to Cassian! No! Don’t!"

Unfortunately, the guards quickly dragged her away, and Claren’s heartbreaking cries gradually faded until they were gone.

The scene was humiliating, especially for the imperial family.

Yet there was nothing Ragan could do.

The incident in the hall alone had already tarnished the family’s reputation, and now the perpetrator was one of the princes—allegedly working with a demon.

"Elina, can you take responsibility for your words?" Ragan asked, his voice cold.

Before Elina could speak, Malverna interrupted her.

"I can be her witness."

Ragan turned to her, his expression a mix of complexity and unease.

This woman was clearly a protector assigned by the Singularity of Chaos for Elina.

Again and again, the same pattern emerged—Elina was defended from every danger, proving just how valuable she was in the eyes of the Singularity of Chaos.

With a long sigh, he asked, "Can you withdraw your power?"

Malverna said nothing, casually raising her right hand.

In an instant, the force holding Cassian vanished. He gasped for air and tried to rise—but failed.

Both of his legs were broken, and pain shot through him like fire.

"Cassian, I never imagined you could be so cruel," Ragan said, his voice weak and tinged with sorrow. "First, you committed a crime by turning the guests into demons. Then, you framed your sister and cornered her in front of everyone with falsified evidence. And now, you’ve worked with a demon. I even wonder if the attack by the Underworld Gate was your doing."

His eyes burned with deep disappointment.

Cassian opened his mouth to deny it, but Zerathos’s voice echoed in his mind.

"It’s useless to deny it, Cassian. Everything has been exposed. Don’t you see how everyone is looking at you?"

Cassian froze, glancing around at the people present, his chest heaving with panic.

Their gazes burned with disgust, anger, and hatred. Even the nobles who had once supported him now looked at him the same way.

’No... I don’t want this to happen!’

he shouted.

Zerathos’ lips curved in a slight smile.

In an instant, his illusory figure appeared beside Cassian, lifting his chin and staring at him with chilling calm.

"Still want to deny it? Didn’t I say it was useless? How about this—give me your body now, and I’ll take you away from here safely."

Cassian shook his head firmly.

’No. I won’t do it!’

If he gave up his body, death would surely follow.

Zerathos’ expression turned icy. "Don’t you understand your situation? After this is over, you will be harshly punished. Your name will be remembered as the vilest criminal in history. Is that what you want?"

The thought made Cassian’s face go pale instantly.

He shook his head, struggling to suppress his fear.

’No... I don’t want that!’

Zerathos seemed pleased. "Then hand over your body to me. I guarantee I will get you out of this place—and make you emperor of this continent!"