The hall was luxurious and exquisite. Even the ground was inlaid with crystals. The magnificent hall exuded soft glow that made everyone feel righteous, warm, and filled with the aura of light.

At the front of the hall was a young man dressed in oriental robes. He looked very youthful and almost demonically handsome. His eyes, however, was a faint shade of crimson. He looked breathtaking yet sinister.

"Your Majesty, the Black Gorilla King is dead!"

Below him, an old man with a slender body and hoarse voice reported respectfully.

Who would have thought that in such a dazzling hall filled with the aura of light, the person seated on the throne was Doomsday, a notorious murderer and one of the top rebel army leaders in the Holy City Empire?

"He's dead? Did Farron act personally?"

Doomsday, who was seated on the throne, did not show any fluctuations in his tone. It was as if nothing could rouse his interest.

The old man below shook his head bitterly. After all, he knew who Farron was. Farron was the most important minister in the entire Holy Dragon Empire, the Minister of Phantom. Not only did Farron have complete control over the Holy Dragon City's intelligence but he also held the ears of the royal family. Why would he want to leave Holy Dragon City?

However, it seemed that only Farron could have killed the Black Gorilla King so effortlessly.

"Your Majesty, it's not Farron but a Deputy Combat Team Leader from the Holy Dragon Empire's Phantom Ministry. This person's name is Leon. He was the son of Count Stanwin from Boulder City but later joined Phantom and killed Orsato, which made him the Deputy Team Leader of Phantom's Combat Team. This time, it appears that the White Rajah had obtained something that belongs to the royal family though he didn't report it. Nonetheless, the royal family dispatched a combat squad and successfully assassinated the White Rajah. The Black Gorilla King was also killed by Leon. We've never noticed this person before but…"

The old man did not continue to speak. Leon had appeared out of nowhere. There had not been much information about Leon in the past but he managed to rise like a phoenix and kill the Black Gorilla King. Now, he had become a top-level contender who could tilt the balance in the Holy Dragon Empire.

Someone who was able to vanquish the Black Gorilla King had to be on par with the mighty existences such as Doomsday or Minister Farron. Therefore, from now onward, Leon would be investigated thoroughly.

"Leon? What almighty beast blood does he have?"

Doomsday, who was seated high up in his throne, finally revealed a slight fluctuation in his tone. He was interested to know about Leon.

"Your Majesty, according to our investigation, Leon didn't inherit any almighty beast bloodline. Instead, he's a Host!"

"A Host?"

Doomsday on the throne crooked an eyebrow. Everyone knew the drawback of becoming a Host. Achieving the level of a full-shifter was practically a graveyard for Hosts. As soon as they attempted a full-shift, they would be engulfed by the almighty beasts' will.

Very few Hosts would succeed. Even if they did, it was probably because the will belonged to a very weak almighty beast. However, anyone who could kill the Black Gorilla King must be at least a top mid-tier almighty beast!

"Your Majesty, it gets even more shocking. Leon's almighty beast is a high-tier almighty beast – the Blood-eyed Dragon. It's one of the top-ranked creatures among the ancient high-tier almighty beasts and belongs under the class of Vipera Dragons!"

"A Blood-eyed Dragon?"

Doomsday stood up abruptly from his throne and a strange color flitted across his eyes.

"Very good. Not only is he comparable to Farron but he's also a powerful Host. I haven't met such an interesting opponent in a long time. I want to meet him personally."

As soon as Doomsday finished speaking, his body transformed into a crimson mist. Then, at an inconceivable speed, he disappeared without a trace.

Only the old man was left in the hall. He could only shake his head and smile bitterly. Nevertheless, since Doomsday was going, the old man was not too worried. No matter how powerful Leon might be, as long as Doomsday showed his hand, it would not be a problem.

…

On the wide road, two carriages were rushing ahead at top speed. In the carriages were Merlin and his team.

Merlin was returning from White Rajah City. When they got to a safe place, he let Ririya off the carriage.

"Go, no one can control your destiny. Only you can determine your own destiny!"

Merlin knew that this development of events would become the most pivotal turning point in Ririya's life. A strong-willed person would rise. Perhaps, Merlin might be able to see Ririya again.

As for a weak-willed person, they would completely crumble, losing the confidence and will to live. Destiny was something that each person held in their two hands.

"Remember, you're the master of your destiny…"

Merlin's voice drifted further and further away. After an hour, Ririya had groggily emerged from her stupor. In her mind, scenes of what occurred in White Rajah City began to flash.

"Father…"

Ririya was extremely frightened. In this wilderness, there were no guards and nobody she knew. Even White Rajah City had turned into ruins. She was just a delicate girl who did not inherit any almighty beast bloodline. In such a troubled world, she would only be swallowed by others.

Suddenly, Ririya found a letter on her lap. Opening it, she saw that it was a letter left by her father. After reading the content of the letter, Ririya burst into tears.

It turned out that her father had made all the necessary preparations for her.

"Remember, you're the master of your destiny…"

In the depths of Ririya's mind, the message echoed. Ririya turned her gaze into the distance. She knew that the powerful man who killed her father had spared her. He had not been remotely interested in the treasure her father left behind in his letter.

"Maybe you're too confident. One day, I'll defeat you. I'll master my destiny!"

Ririya bit her lips tightly. Her eyes turned resolute as she walked steadfastly toward Doomsday City. Only there, she had hopes of using the treasure her father had left behind to become a great existence!

However, grasping one's destiny would be a road filled with tribulations…

In the carriage, Merlin suddenly opened his eyes and his face curved into an unbidden smile. Iza looked confused whereas Shiya appeared hesitant as though she could guess the reason behind Merlin's smile.

"Deputy Team Leader, that Ririya, why did you let her go?"

Although Shiya was a woman, she had been part of Phantom for a long time so she was not soft-hearted. Someone like Ririya who knew that Merlin had killed her father, should rightfully be eliminated.

However, not only did Merlin spared her life but he also escorted her to safety. It was also impossible to say that Merlin was being merciful because the murderous aura on his body was so overpowering that it even intimidated Shiya to some extent. Even if the battle with the Black Gorilla King had destroyed the entire White Rajah City, Merlin would not have batted an eyelid. So, how could a person like him be merciful?

Merlin glanced at Shiya and shook his head. "Destiny is difficult to predict. What's an extra person or two? Perhaps, this world would become more interesting."

Whether or not Shiya and the others understood, Merlin did not explain himself further. He did not have a special reason for letting Ririya go. It was simply a gut-feeling. Merlin also wanted to see, after this innocent and carefree girl encountered such a life-changing event, would she be able to grasp her destiny?

As for worries over Ririya's revenge, Merlin was not at all concerned. He was a powerful existence capable of challenging a Latitude Cosmos, why would he worry about an unknown girl?

"Let's go. We'll return to Holy Dragon City a little earlier than planned. We shouldn't be too far from Holy Dragon City now."

Merlin had escorted Ririya to a place far from Doomsday City and away from all the chaotic places. It was also near Holy Dragon City. Thus, whichever choice Ririya made might eventually change her destiny.

The carriage continued to speed ahead. They could almost see the outline of a gigantic city. Holy Dragon City came within view so everyone heaved a breath of relief.

This mission was truly filled with ups and downs. Despite a series of dangerous situations, they finally managed to escape relatively unscathed. Upon thinking about the generous reward this mission would bring, Shiya, Iza, and even the heavily-injured Monty felt extremely elated.

"In another half an hour, we'll be back at… Wait, something is wrong. Who's that?"

Merlin looked up into the sky abruptly. The carriage was instantly wrecked. Without hesitation, Merlin quickly shapeshifted.

"Boom."

The originally clear sky suddenly turned crimson. A strange sinister aura permeated the air. Then, a gigantic palm appeared in the crimson sky that seemed determined to smash Merlin's carriage into pieces.

"Roar…"

Merlin's body swelled rapidly. The Blood-eye Dragon's will snarled ferociously in Merlin Awareness, seemingly sensing a threatening power.

"Crack."

Merlin used all his strength to stir up a massive gale with his claws. The Blood-eye Dragon also possessed the power of the wind. However, at this moment, it was completely incapable of resisting this gigantic crimson palm. Powerless, the gale collapsed and even his claws were snapped.

"Blood-eye!"

Merlin did not panic. The Blood-eye on his forehead immediately released a crimson beam. The blood crystals went to work. The two broken claws were quickly regenerated with amazing speed, visible to the naked eye. The regenerated claws were perfectly formed.

In some sense, a Blood-eye Dragon with blood crystals was close to immortal. As long as there were blood crystals, the Blood-eye Dragon would not die.

Merlin's Blood-eye covered the gigantic crimson palm and finally showed its strength. The gigantic crimson palm vibrated violently and vanished with a massive bang.

"Not bad, indeed a high-tier almighty beast!"

After the gigantic crimson palm vanished, a bloody mist gradually appeared behind a red cloud. It then began to coalesce into an unfamiliar figure, standing in mid-air, regarding Merlin with a hostile gaze.