Son of the Hero King
chapter-602

Chapter 602-603: 8th Day

As the sun slowly rose in the sky and the light of dawn graced the world, citizens of Lustburg and Wratharis were either kneeling and praying or were sitting anxiously and waiting.

They knew that on this day, the final direction of the war would be decided and everything would depend on the answer of the King of Wratharis.

No citizen liked war and though Lustburg had the advantage now, everyone knew that once the King level started fighting, everything else would be meaningless. Of course, the ones with the most worry were those from Wratharis.

No matter how much they rioted or protested, they knew very well that the final decision was not in their hands. Only Lupus could take the decision that would either doom them or save them.

***

In the shrine of the maiden, Kiku was not in her usual slovenly state, her golden tails were swishing in the way while she swung the branch of a sacred tree. She was clad in a red and white kimono and her wrists were drenched in nearly completely golden blood.

Next to her, Sakura, the Holy Daughter, was performing a careful dance. Steps by step, slowly dragging her feet on her ground and with it her own trail of blood, as she formed a ritual circle. Unlike Kiku, Sakura’s blood only had a few hints of gold in it. After all, Kiku was the biological daughter of a divine beast as well as one of the oldest Supreme Daughters.

The only reason she had yet to reach the Demigod level was simply because the path she followed was similar to that of her mother, which slowed her down and blocked her path.

A little more afar, Shuten Douji was holding her gourd with a trembling hand. Shuten was a smart and cunning woman. One who had planned the demise of many of her enemies and had fought many bloody battles in her life.

Despite all this wealth of experience and despite her not even standing on the battlefield at this very moment, she could not help but feel like she was suffocating.

After all, this was it. Her plans and machinations were finally coming to a conclusion and what would happen soon would decide if her gamble had been the right one.

After all, there was no way Lupus hadn’t caught on by now and if he managed to survive or keep his throne, the Oni would most likely lose their places in Wratharis from now.

Meanwhile, even if Sol succeeded and Setsuna took the throne, there was no way to know what would happen next.

When she had started all this, her plan had been on the basis that Lustburg should have been slightly inferior or not much stronger than Wratharis. Lustburg would win greatly thanks to her intel and in the end, Lustburg would be too weakened to do a true power grab on Wratharis.

In the end though, she had been too naive or rather she had underestimated how unfair a Blessed could be when Fate was on their side and in a matter of weeks, Lustburg went from being more or less inferior in terms of firepower to being so vastly superior it was not even funny.

Her machinations seemed more like a joke now and she realized once again that in front of absolute power, all strategies and tactics were for naught.

When Sakura finished her dance on a song only she could listen to, she stopped and the magical circle flashed as Kiku continued to murmur silent prayers and like a dream, it vanished.

“Are you done?” Shuten asked to which Kiku answered with a nod, “The magical circle is ready. I can now activate the Holy Territory with just a thought.”

“Wasn’t it supposed to be some complicated ritual?”

“It is. But I have the advantage of having more divinity in my blood than many. The only one who could match my speed would be the angels or the demon. Of course, there was Echidna as well but she is dead.”

Kiku sighed and massaged her neck. “The last time I had to prepare this ritual was nearly a hundred years ago. I never thought I would have to do it again against Lustburg.” The solemn atmosphere around her vanished and became more relaxed but there was still a glint in her eyes.

“So this is it.”

“Indeed.”

The two were silent while Sakura, who had been dreaming of some potion for blood replenishment asked, “Master, I do not understand. Is Lustburg not our ally?”

She was pretty confused by the current situation. Though she was happy to have gotten the experience of creating this circle, she did not understand why they were preparing against their own allies.

“Well… Let’s just say that this is more a measure of precaution than anything else.”

Kiku caressed Sakura’s hair as she answered softly, “I have a feeling that we will need it and what did I tell you about feeling and initiation?”

“Never ignore them.”

“Indeed. Blessed are the beloved and slaves of Fate. This is why, when we feel something is happening, we never ignore it. We can act on it or refuse to. But we absolutely never ignore it.”

Kiku insisted on the ‘never’ before focusing on Shuten. “So, old friend, what do we do now?”

Shuten chuckled as she forcibly stopped the shaking of her hands and drank a mouthful of alcohol.

“I am going to the front.”

Since she had her hand in this situation, it was only logical for her to see the end of this.

“So you don’t think Lupus will surrender?”

Shuten laughed and stood up, “Don’t ask questions you already know the answer to.”

If Lupus wished to surrender, he would have done so days ago.

Now there was no option for surrender available.

Only war.

***

Everyone waited with a breath. The army of Wratharis had been pushed quite far and while the Capital was still not in sight, it was only a question of time.

Many soldiers stood helpless and confused, not knowing what they should do and whether they should try fighting off the approaching Lustburg army or just wait and observe the incoming Lustburg army.

Should they fight? But then was it truly worth giving their life for the Tyrant Wolf? But then if they surrendered now and Lustburg lost or simply came to an agreement with Wratharis and retreated. Wouldn’t they be considered as traitors?

This was perhaps the hardest choice in their entire life, many soldiers had to make and they knew that the choice they made now would decide their entire life.

To say that this was nerve-wracking would be an understatement.

The soldiers of Lustburg who were marching had a different mindset. This was perhaps the most relaxing last battle they ever had to go through. They knew that even in the worst case, they would not have to fight. In fact, they had received express order to not even approach farther than a certain point and another order they received was to be ready for mass teleportation at any time and not even try to resist.

The soldiers understood what was happening. The battle that would happen soon was not a battle little soldier like them could participate in. This was a battle between the ruler and only the highest power in Lustburg and Wratharis would join in.

Except for the recent battle where Lilith faced the necromancer who infiltrated Lustburg, and the world had not seen a fight at the King level for a decade now.

The latest fight was the coup d’etat orchestrated by Lupus against his brother.

Still, the soldiers knew that staying close would be suicide and they were more than happy to listen to those orders.

***

The silence was oppressive and the two armies stood facing each other with a distance of approximately one kilometer separating them.

A distance that seemed large in appearance but could be crossed in but an instant by most soldiers.

When the Sun finally reached a high point in the sky, a few people gulped as they looked up at the sky and were finally able to see him.

A young golden-haired man with a tall stature, wearing regal clothes entirely white and blue, with thread of gold depicting a Phoenix and a Snake.

He was sitting on a throne vastly different from the ice one they had witnessed seven day ago.

This throne seemed to have been molded and sculpted from rock. It was an intricate design full of majesty and elegance.

His eyes were close as if he was sleeping or simply had no interest in what was going on below him.

Even so, his mere presence was suffocating and all those who tried to look up directly at him for more than a few seconds would feel great discomfort, as if they were mere mortals trying to gaze at the sun for too long.

The young man was not alone. Adding to his presence was a giant black Phoenix with feathers floating in the wind and looking like the incarnation of Death itself.

A Phoenix had never been seen by any of the people here and its mere presence was more than enough for many of them to buckle under the combined pressure of those two monsters.

They even wondered for an instant if they were not looking at the two kings but the aura those two showed was definitely that of a Duke rank.

This simple fact reminded them why the current prince of Lustburg was so frightening.

After all, under the regulations and war laws, since he was “only” a Duke. No particular limits were restricting him and he was free to cause as much chaos and destruction he wished on the battlefield.

The number of monsters did not stop there.

Standing on the right of the prince on a throne made out of ice was none other than the second Blessed of Wratharis. Setsuna Ira.

She was clad in the traditional armor of Wratharis and two sheathed swords could be seen on her laps. Her expression was quite melancholic as she caressed one of those swords but her bloodthirst was also palpable.

All of them, even the youngest ones, knew the story of Setsuna Ira and they understood clearly that by the end of this day, Wratharis would most likely have one less Blessed.

On the left of the prince, was a purple haired young woman, Lilin Luxuria, the Sword Demons. Unlike Sol and Setsuna, Lilin was not sitting on a throne.

She was standing on a long and relatively thin sword. Her purple hair swaying and her body was covered by a thin skin-tight black suit and a red Qipio above.

She may be young but her prowess were undeniable and her power was frightening.

Watching this small team of four, the only thought that graced everyone mind was that, as long as they didn't die, Lustburg would undoubtedly enter a new golden era.

***

As time passed more and more soldiers felt like hundreds of tons were weighing on their backs and that the only reason they did not outright kneel was more because of the Prince's leniency and his disinterest in humiliating them further.

“It's time.”

All the pressure vanished and his soft voice covered immediately the distance and reached all their ears.

Opening his eyes, Sol Luxuria straightened up on his throne and looked at the horizon.

Immediately, more than ten screens appeared all around them in the air. No one was surprised by this fact as this was not the first time this technology was used.

The soldiers on both side also stood straight and sported more serious expressions.

“The Seven day ceasefire officially ended and we now enter the 8th day. I believe I have been extremely lenient and charitable. Don't you think so?”

No one answered and no one needed to answer for they knew that they were not the target of those words.

“I, Sol Dragona Luxuria, hereby declare on this auspicious day…. Surrender and you will be spared. Resist and you will be exterminated. Make your choice very carefully. This will be the last mercy I give.”

It was hard to say to whom Sol was speaking but the answer soon became evident.

“I do not kneel! I do not beg!”

Awooooo!!!!

A long howl filled the sky, and dark cloud gathered alongside lightning sparkle and electricity.

Light bloomed, lightning flashed, Thunder grounded and he appeared.

Clad in golden armor, holding one long spear in hand and entirely cloaked in lightning.

Lupus Tiangou Ira. Tyrant, King, Usurper and Murderer.

He was known by many monikers. One less flattering than the other. But out of all those monikers, there was only one that he accepted readily. That of the Celestial Wolf who howl at the Heaven and devour the Sun.