--- Padinyss’s POV ---

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I heard this from one of my servants,” Ekrok answered my question.

“Hmm- that’s good to hear. I hope that they’re going to come as your servant said. If that’s the case, we should get things ready to welcome them.”

“What do you want me to do?” He was back to how he’d been, but for some reason, my instincts told me that something was wrong.

It just won’t leave my mind, maybe it’s not Ekrok, but somebody else. But who? Who would conspire against me and why did the orb show Ekrok as a threat?

“Padinyss?”

“Ah, I was just thinking about something.”

Seeing his questioning look, I decided to ask something that could damage our friendship, but I’d rather not have him around if I can’t trust him completely. “Say, would you- Would you become my blood servant?”

His eyes opened wide as he knelt down in front of me. “I believe our friendship would never be the same, but if that’s your wish, I’ll comply.”

What now. Should I believe him or should I make him my blood servant? He’d become a mindless fanatical, just like the people following Elena and Dred. Well, they’re certainly useful, but Ekrok has helped me many times in the past and I’m not sure I want to go through with this. Haah- whatever! I don’t want anyone to pose a threat to my authority, not even some first ranked dragon.

I took the orb out of my void ring and looked at Ekrok as I poured my mana into it. He appeared in it once again, proving it that he was still a threat. “Oh? The orb of seers?”

“Mhm, you see, I have a strange problem,” I nodded.

“What could it be?”

“Nothing much, it’s just that it keeps showing you as a threat, even though it never did before. Come closer.”

Nodding his head, he stopped only two steps away from me and knelt down in front of me. I leaned forward on my throne and looked into his eyes. Except for the devourers, every legendary being had the eyes of truth, which meant nobody could lie without our notice while looking us in the eye. Not even Elena could lie to me, no matter what was her race. That was one of the reasons why I believed I had to kill them as soon as possible. I was sure they’d want to kill me, no matter what I did due to the threat I was posing to them.

“The orb started showing you since your last leave. What happened? Where did you go?”

“Strange, I left in search of our enemies and I can’t say I did anything in particular. Still, I don’t think that a tool like the orb of seers would lie to you, so I must be a threat to your life. Maybe it’s without my knowledge?” he started to ponder.

He isn’t denying that he is a threat, hmm- what to do, what to do, I tapped my finger on the armrest.

“If that’s what’s bothering you, I’ll become your blood servant,” he stood up and stepped closer.

“Stop,” I raised my hand.

“Considering that Elena and Dred are two people, they’re probably going to fight me together. I shouldn’t forget about that red-haired servant you and Inhe mentioned before. I imagine their teamwork should be superb, so maybe they’re going to move in a way that’d make use of your attacks.”

“What do you mean?” he asked, furrowing his brows. “I believe I can control my own spells well enough.”

“Certainly. My point was that they’d move around on the battlefield in a way that once you used a powerful spell, they’d dodge it and it would hit my back instead. Or something like that,” I explained.

“Oh! I understand. Hmm- that must be true, but what if I didn’t take part in the battle? Would the orb still show me as a threat?”

I poured my mana into the orb and imagined the battle without Ekrok and this time, he didn’t appear. “That seems to be the solution.”

“Interesting. Do you suggest I leave and do something else in the meantime?”

“I’d rather not enslave my old friend,” I laughed and then switched to a serious voice. “I want you to stay out of my battle against Elena and Dred. You should kill the dark scars instead.”

“Understood. I wouldn’t want you as my enemy for numerous reasons and betraying you isn’t an option for me. We both know that I respect you, even if it’s only because of the connection between our races,” he turned around to leave.

“I’m glad to see that you’re so understanding, my friend,” I smiled at him.

“Mhm, I’m also happy that you didn’t just kill me,” he nodded his head and then closed the door.

Haa, thank the creator. I just had to make him leave the battle to me. Wait, could it be the Abyss’s doing? I imagine it’d be happy to screw around and make some fucked up rules. Maybe this is how the abyss is telling me to fight them alone… it’s good that I have this orb.

Well, enough rest for today. I’ll go and meditate instead after checking on Inhe. I left the throne room and went straight towards the place in front of my palace. Jake and Cor were still tied to their poles and had no way to move or get away.

I stopped in front of them and took a look at the seal I placed on them. “Haha, I see you’ve devoured a good part of my seal and your wounds mostly healed as well. It’s good that I came to check on you.”

“Master!” I heard Inhe’s voice behind my back.

“What’s up?”

“Oh, nothing. I just greeted you. As you can see, there are twenty imperial guards in diamond formations and I commanded a few others to hide. I’ve also notified the alliance about the devourer’s arrival and they told they’d send their armies.”

“Only their armies? Why?”

“Uhm- they didn’t say they wouldn’t come. Should I ask them, just in case?”

“Wait, I’ll use the orb,” I took out my orb of seers and contacted Jotun. “Hey! Will you send only your army?”

“Padinyss? Yes, of course. What if they plan to attack our kingdoms? We can’t leave the capital city as we please these days. You must understand we have people we should protect as well,” he replied.

Tsk… You guys and protecting, ridiculous. They’d rather kill their whole kingdom than to die, but fine. If that’s how you want to play, I’ll kill all of you after I take care of Elena and Dred. No! Better off, I’ll destroy this cursed planet! Why have I not thought of this before? I could have got out of this place much sooner and then I could have destroyed the planet. I’m su-

“Padinyss? Why are you silent?” Jotun asked, his voice showing concern.

Heh, you’ll be sorry for not doing as said, damned dogs.

“Ah, nothing. It’s fine, it’s as you said. I won’t call the others either, we shouldn’t let the devourers do as they please.”

“I thank you for your understanding.”

“Mhm, bye,” I cut the call. What should I use? I wonder. I think I’ll use the eon element. That’s going to take care of the planet, hehe. Stupid lesser beings should have never talked back to me.

“Master? What did he say?”

“Jotun doesn’t plan to come, but the same goes for the others,” I put my finger on Jake’s forehead and with a wisp of my mana, knocked him out. After doing the same to Cor, I turned around and looked at Inhe.

“You see, I’ve realised that once we open the seal, I can break through to the six hundredth level, which means I’d become much stronger than I’m right now. But if I’m in a battle, I can’t break through and because of that, I’ll need your help.”

“What does Master want to do?”

I pushed my knee between her legs and grabbed her chin. “M-Master?” she put her hands on the wall behind her.

“Tell me, do you think this planet is worth to fight for? Or to even risk our lives?”

“The answer is no, obviously,” she replied. “Ah! Do you plan to leave after breaking the seal?”

“Hehe, certainly, that’d be great. Unfortunately, thanks to the Abyss, I must kill them or I’m going to die.”

“What? What is this Abyss? How could it-”

“Inhe, the only thing you should never question is the abyss. Leave it be.”

“Yes, master. But what do you plan to do then?”

“I’m sure Elena and Dred want to start off by opening the seal. I could make a deal with them, stating that I’d let them leave along with their stupid friends and after breaking through, I’d leave with a few people and destroy these cursed planets. But I don’t need people who can’t obey me. So which are you?” I whispered into her ear and moved my finger towards her breasts.

“I live and die for Master, that much is obvious,” she nodded. I let go of her chin and pushed her onto her knees.

“M-Master?”

“If that’s so, then please your master.”

“But we are outside and the servants can see-”

“And? A true king can do as he pleases, anywhere, anytime. Could it be you have objections?” I raised my brows as I made the scales around my private parts disappear.

“I wouldn’t dare to and if this is what master wishes, I’ll comply,” she replied.

“Good, then serve me. Make me feel good,” I patted the top of her head.

Haah~ It’s been a while anyway. I’m going to break you in tonight.