The Sinful Life of The Emperor
chapter-772

The sight that greeted Kiba was enough to steal his breath. Penelope, the leader of the Dryads, stood tall, a living monument to the power coursing through their veins. Her height rivaled his own, her form a testament to the strength that flowed like sap beneath her sun-kissed skin. Muscles, like the roots of ancient trees, corded beneath the surface, a stark contrast to the vibrant tapestry of wildflowers woven into her hair that cascaded down her back in a wild display of untamed beauty.

For the first time since his journey began, Kiba met a gaze devoid of the allure or vulnerability he had encountered previously. It was a look of pure, unadulterated power, and a jolt of… something… shot through him. But it wasn't the usual thrill. This was different. This was a revelation.

A wave of shame washed over him, hotter than any desert sun.

In his fervent dedication to "Wife Pleasuring Service Ltd." and his mission to help society, he had fallen prey to his own biases.

First, it had been the married women – the Suzannes, the mothers, the full-figured figures he'd been drawn to.

Sure, Suzane was a beloved MILF, but hadn't he been so eager to help because she was also Olly's mother?

Then there was Katherine, another MILF, though this time of a more aristocratic nature, and Sophia's mother.

Shame burned even brighter as he then focused on his other venture - Maiden's Love Circle. His encounters with Ashlyn and Sophia had led him to explore the petite end of the spectrum, further fueling his selective view.

How could he, a man entrusted with such a monumental responsibility, have allowed his vision to be so limited!?

How could he have swung between two extremes, neglecting the vast space in between?!

Shame morphed into a storm brewing within Kiba.

His fists clenched, his body shaking with a desperate resolve.

He had failed countless women, his actions driven by a limited perspective. The happiness he sought to bring was built on a foundation of sand.

He can't continue like this!

For Kiba, this was a moment of awakening as profound as any Buddha might experience...

Penelope and the surrounding Dryad warriors watched him with a mix of apprehension and simmering anger. While they wouldn't dare challenge a guest of the Ice Queen, the sight of their fallen sisters, bruised and shaken from their scuffle with him, ignited a protective fire in their eyes. Their gazes flicked between their leader and the fallen women, a silent oath forming. This demon wouldn't leave Eden unscathed! He deserved the fires of the deepest hell!

RUMBLEEEE~

Suddenly, the earth trembled.

A corona of crackling golden lightning erupted around Kiba, chilling the air. The sky above them contorted, turning an ominous shade as dark clouds roiled in.

Thunder boomed, a deafening roar that shook the very foundations of Eden. Below, creatures of all stripes huddled together, fear coursing through them in response to this sudden display of raw power.

A golden aura crackled around Kiba, his entire form radiating a terrifying intensity.

"What the...!"

Tempest, her heart pounding against her ribs like a frantic bird, couldn't understand.

Why was he unleashing such power?

Had the tribe's aggression triggered such rage in him?

But it was a genuine mistake, a misunderstanding!

She tried to call out, but her voice was lost in the thunderous symphony.

Just as Ealara and the others turned their terrified eyes to the turbulent sky, a bolt of lightning, thick and pulsating, descended and materialized in Kiba's hand.

It wasn't the fiery bolt of destruction they expected, but a rubbery, almost malleable form that resembled a whip. It crackled with energy, radiating power that left no doubt about its destructive potential.

"We are doomed!"

A strangled gasp escaped Penelope's lips as she exchanged terrified glances with the Dryads. This wasn't a mere monster; this was a force of nature, a being capable of obliterating them with a flick of his wrist.

Yet, what followed defied all expectations.

With a guttural roar, Kiba lashed the electrified whip against his own back.

A sickening crack echoed through the clearing, followed by a spurt of crimson. The once pristine white of his shirt bloomed with red as the whip tore through flesh and fabric.

He struck himself again and again, each lash drawing another scream from his throat, another surge of blood erupting from his wounds.

"I may be a guest of the Ice Queen," he roared, his voice a primal bellow, "but that doesn't give me the right to harm women!"

"Self-defense is no excuse!"

The self-inflicted punishment continued, a brutal display of penance. Blood painted the ground crimson, a stark contrast to the vibrant flora.

"I misjudged him!"

Tempest watched, tears welling in her eyes.

He was hurting himself for what?!

He hadn't done anything wrong!

The memories flashed before her – the fair battle with Aurora, the warrior who had challenged him upon entering Eden. Then her attempt to trap him in the mutated swamp, a misguided act of revenge, had only resulted in him saving her, Adira, and Elara.

These Dryad warriors, they had been the aggressors, mistaking him for a demon. He had subdued them with minimal harm.

Yet, here he was, inflicting a brutal self-punishment.

The raw power they felt moments ago was now replaced by a crushing sense of awe.

He was broken by his actions, broken for hurting them even in self-defense. Here was a man so powerful, a creature capable of unleashing the fury of the heavens, yet so consumed by the sense of responsibility that he would inflict such suffering upon himself.

"I'm sorry!"

Penelope felt the weight of her own anger and prejudice crumble.

Shame burned in her throat, hotter than any fire.

They had called this man a demon!?

A danger?!

He was a paragon of selflessness even if it meant turning the weapon on himself.

The remaining Dryad warriors, especially those who attacked Kiba without provocation, lowered their heads even further.

Tears streamed down some faces, a mixture of remorse and fear.

They didn't deserve to live on the same plane as this… this… whatever he was.

They had forced a being of such immense power and compassion to punish himself. Perhaps the hell they feared awaited them after all.

Far away, within the icy palace, the Ice Queen's eyes snapped open. For the first time, a flicker of genuine surprise crossed her stoic face.

"This man," she breathed, "I underestimated him.".

Even their past clash within the World Fragment, a battle born from the mutual resonance of the Cosmic Spark within them, hadn't elicited such a reaction from her...