SWNOVELS
Chapter 161: Arrived at the Capital City: Grodunberg
--- Chapter 159 ---
"Let's see..."
Huo Yuhao grabbed the Falling Star X-Bow and peeked at the map Evo had marked once. Just once is enough for him to pinpoint every location of the monster's nest.
Using Universal Breathing Technique, Huo Yuhao enhanced his physical strength and pulled the bowstrings gently. The newly made bow is somehow rougher to operate than he expected. contemporary romance
It won't be even with 50% of his full strength.
However, that's why Huo Yuhao liked it. The raw force he could generate with this bow exceeded even some SS-Class Weapon he created in the past. Of course, in pure stats alone, not counting added abilities from things such as Spirit Bones used as materials.
"With my bow, I abused the power of Fire and Steel. Darkness lingers within my arrows, and Death strikes everything struck by them. Eternal Shadow is equality all my enemy shall experience at the end time."
"Die... You imbecile monsters."
"My arrows will never miss... Gundala Pati."
He tilted the Falling Star X-Bow and aimed at the atmosphere, firing a sequence of energy arrows. Several sparks appeared and flashed across the sky, having a potent force to blow everything apart with a single strike.
The fire and steel danced with each other, triggering the multiplication of Huo Yuhao's arrows. One arrow separated into two. Then four, and keeps going until over 100.
The arrows seemed like lightning strikes from heaven, painting the blue sky with black streaks across the horizon. The black lines become bigger and bigger as time passes, turning the once normal-looking arrows into missiles.
Everyone witnessed this breathtaking scenery with their mouth wide open and eyes dilated in disbelief, hearing a series of thunderclaps from the sky.
SWOOSH! KABOOM!
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
BOOOOOOOM!!!
[You have killed 112.030.700 Monster Races]
[You have killed 87.300.020 Monster Races]
[You have killed 13.023.046 Monster Races]
[You have killed 69.012.342 Monster Races]
[You have killed...]
[You have killed...]
[You have killed...]
[You have killed...]
[You have killed...]
[...]
[...]
[...]
[You have obtained a new achievement]
[Extreme Monster Slaughterer]
[You have received a new title]
[Monster-Exterminating Archer(S)]
[Name: Monster Exterminating Archer]
[Grade: S]
[Effect: Dealt 150% more damage on Monster Race when wielding bow]
Huo Yuhao threw Falling Star X-Bow back into the Inventory and watched the black lightning strikes every body of water within a 3000 miles radius.
He checked the area with Evo's map and noticed the red area changed into blue again, leaving only a few spots with red marks. It includes the lake near the Army Post and some locations deep in Karuta Empire's territory.
"There are 9th Level Monsters there, huh? Anyway, my attacks should have injured them quite badly, given how much power and energy I put into them."
"Probably on their death bed."
"Master, was that you?" Triana suddenly appeared with a gush of wind.
Huo Yuhao nodded and replied, "If you want to eliminate the nest, I recommend you lead everyone in the army post to attack the lake immediately."
"There are two or three 9th Class Monsters there."
Hearing Huo Yuhao's words, Triana frowned and mumbled, "I'll do so."
"Please wait for a moment, Master. I know it's bad already for us to delay the journey."
"Y-You can punish me if you want later."
Huo Yuhao rolled his eyes and returned, "Shut up. You only want to get off, Triana."
"Hehe..." Triana giggled, disappearing from Huo Yuhao's sight.
Huo Yuhao landed on the ground and summoned Rosa, telling her to finish the 9th Class Monsters on the edge of this land. She was surprised for a moment and nodded in affirmation.
"Leave it to me, my liege." Rosa crouched down and used her shadow plants' manipulation. She clenched her hand and triggered several monstrous roars across the land.
[Your subordinate: Rosa has killed twenty 9th Class Monsters]
[Adding them to the kill counts] Evo notified Huo Yuhao.
"No. not yet." Rosa pulled her hand and dragged the monster corpses into the Eternal Shadow Realm, knowing they would be beneficial resources for her lord.
Huo Yuhao noticed this and didn't say anything, as 9th Class Monsters would be good shadow beads to increase his shadow army's strength.
"Oh yeah, Rosa."
"You'll stand by on my side."
"We are going to the capital after this monster nest thing is over."
Rosa trembled when catching what her lord meant.
Capital?
Her former home.
"You can turn off your phantom form too, Rosa. And change your appearance so no one will be suspicious." Huo Yuhao added casually.
"I need an aide that wouldn't hinder my plan."
Rosa mumbled something and changed her appearance to be more human-like. She stood over 6 feet, having unparalleled beauty and scattered black hair. She wore a proper yet modest blue dress and matching high heels.
There is a resemblance to Terresa de Kemos, but people won't notice it until their fourth or fifth glances. It's possible because Huo Yuhao's Shadow Extracts don't transform one's soul into a complete Shadow being.
It's just the essence of one's being, getting converted into a shadow warrior. Of course, turning off Phantom Form, where all physical damage is "completely." nullified and gives shadow warrior basically immortality, doesn't bring anything to the table. Except for appearance-wise.
It's one of the differences between Ashborn's Power and Huo Yuhao's Eternal Shadow.
"Share all information related to capital through the mental link, Rosa."
"I want to review them in this journey."
"Right away, my liege." Rosa closed her dark blue eyes.
[Ding! You have finished the Quest]
[Rewarding Fairy King's Canvas: Third Effect unlocked, Karuta Empire's 2nd Emperor Badge, and Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist]
[Third Effect of Fairy King's Canvas unlocked]
[Fairy King's Canvas(Bonded)]
[1st Effect: Ancient Ink Blood's Strengthening]
[2nd Effect: Sub-Dimension Space]
[3rd Effect: Summon Ancient Ink Devil's Vassals]
"That's neat." Huo Yuhao could feel the Fairy King's Canvas become stronger.
Wandering to the other rewards, Huo Yuhao checked their descriptions quickly.
[Name: Karuta Empire's 2nd Emperor Badge]
[Type: Quest Item]
[Grade: A+]
[Description: The lost badge of Karuta Empire's 2nd Emperor. It held the dying message from Mile de Kemos hundred years ago]
[Name: Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist]
[Type: Martial Art]
[Grade: S]
[Description: Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist is a martial art invented by Master Bang, the Ultimate Defensive Art. This style of martial art involves understanding and re-creating within one's body the flows of torrential and undulating forces, putting this into the user's fists]
[Do you want to learn Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist?]
[Yes/No]
Huo Yuhao shrugged and pressed yes, feeling the complex information enter his mind. He breathed in and out, shaking his body to adapt to this technique.
"What a perfect technique to complement White Room's Martial Arts and Gathering of Ten Thousand Waves. It's like Trinity, creating force beyond the user's realm."
"Like..." Huo Yuhao stepped back and lifted his leg, kicking the air alongside the world's atmosphere.
Gently.
Precisely.
And Bang!
Rosa's eyes widened when witnessing a row of clouds disappear from the sky. She doesn't feel any usage of Devil Force or Inner Energy from Huo Yuhao's body, which means that the attack is a pure martial art technique.
'How amazing...' She thought to herself.
[Gathering of Ten Thousand Waves has reached level 5]
[White Room's Martial Arts have evolved to S Grade]
[Water Stream Rock Smashing Rock has leveled up to level 15]
Huo Yuhao puffed a white steam from his mouth.
He looked at his leg and mumbled, "The friction is too much. I have to be more gentle..."
After waiting for fifteen minutes, Huo Yuhao finally saw Harmonia and Triana again. They appeared slightly messy because of the monster nest's subjugation, but no injuries were "apparently." visible.
"Let's go."
Huo Yuhao jumped and kicked the air with his inner energy, flying into the sky. Rosa and the twins followed him silently.
They didn't encounter any issues on the journey and arrived at the capital city's border in just two hours. It could be faster, but Huo Yuhao has to mark some areas with rare treasures along the way. And ordered some Shadow Warriors to pick them.
"We have arrived, Master~!" Harmonia said with such enthusiasm.
"Mm, welcome to the Capital City. Grodunberg." Triana added calmly.
"Grodunberg..." Rosa's eyes blinked a few times, overseeing the familiar-looking scenery before her.
Grodunberg is a massive city, spanning over 149 kilometers of squares, with several sectors connected to the central sector for three known noble families. It looks like Aquila Constellation from above, having a thick yet tall-looking border outside the city.
Huo Yuhao felt somewhat nostalgic as Theomars' memory flashed in his mind briefly. A cold smirk cracks on his face because none of the memories are memorable or happy.
"Admante Family." He could see a tall castle in the central area with a twin clock tower near it. "I'm going to destroy everything to rubble..."
"Haha..."
"Hahaha..."
Telling Harmonia and Triana to lead him, Huo Yuhao flew inside the Grodunberg and sensed several powerful presences. He couldn't help but contain his excitement because they would be valuable additions to his shadow army.
Five minutes later, they landed at the front gate and were "immediately." greeted by the family guards, which possessed 7th Class Devil Warrior Realms.
The guards stared at Huo Yuhao curiously and in contempt, not knowing who he was. Well, his appearance isn't the same as Theomars of the past.
Huo Yuhao ignored them and walked through the gate after Harmonia talked with the guards.
"Who's he? I have never seen such a domineering young man in my life."
"Yeah... Those red eyes send a shiver down my spine."
"But don't you think he looks similar to someone?"
"True. However, I can't put my mind to it. Probably a young master from other noble families?"
"Ah, I see. Just another bastard then-!"
"Woah, what was that??" The guards felt a violent gush on their faces.
Swoosh!
"Stop, Rosa..." Huo Yuhao commented indifferently. "Killing them won't do anything."
Rosa was about to kill the guards with her shadow thorns but stopped when hearing Huo Yuhao's order. She clicked her tongue in annoyance and didn't argue with his decision. However, she remembered their faces and this contempt for eternity.
'I'll remember this. You guys are safe today.' Rosa sent another chill to the guards' spine.
Harmonia and Triana also carved the guards' faces in their death lists but acted naturally.
They arrived at the Admante Mansion and were "instantly." welcomed by rows upon rows of servants.
"Welcome back, young ladies." They opened their mouths simultaneously.
"Where is Alexandra von Admante?" Huo Yuhao asked calmly.
The room suddenly becomes quiet.
The servants looked at Huo Yuhao with dumbfounded expressions.
He opened his mouth again and added, "Tell her that Theomars von Valstrax is here."
The dumbfounded expressions warped in disbelief instantly.
And they couldn't believe their eyes and ears for a moment.
None of the servants believed this young man before them was Theomars or the banished child of the Admante Family.
"What? Is she not here?" His cold voice pierced everyone's ears.
"That's disappointing."
"Theo. 1st sister is attending the Family Gathering. She wouldn't be in the mansion for a few days." Mercy suddenly appeared with her Mercedes persona. She walked down the stairs elegantly.
"..." Huo Yuhao.
Hushing away the servants, Mercy smiled and arrogantly approached Huo Yuhao. "Follow me." She said excitedly, making the fleeing servant nod in realization.
'Yes, this is how it should be.' The servants thought confidently.
Not realizing how wet Mercy's bottom part is.
It's literally drenching.
Mercy escorted Huo Yuhao and others to her room, finding Clara with no clothes on the floor.
"Ahn~! Master."
Huo Yuhao kept a deadpan look and said, "What's this."
Mercy instantly kneeled on all four behind Huo Yuhao, letting him sit on her back. "W-We can help ourselves, M-Master." She breathed in heavily.
"T-Three weeks without you is more torturing than death."
Looking at this, Harmonia and Triana also kneeled on the floor.
"Do I look like I care about your condition?" Huo Yuhao returned indifferently. The Admante sisters whimpered when seeing this cold demeanor.
'Heh, this looks rather nice.' Rosa thought to herself. Yes, this is more like it.
Not once did people in the central forget the fact Theomars von Admante is his sisters' plaything. No one dared to lay their hands on him because these ladies were overly protective. However, there is more than that.
As Terresa de Kemos, Rosa witnessed the torture Thaomars went through in his childhood. Of course, it was by accident.
Now, the roles have reversed.
The arrogant and dignified young ladies of the Admante Family are nothing but lowly bitches in the heat for Theomars.
'It means my liege only has to tame Alexandra von Admante next. It would be hard but not impossible.' Rosa giggled in amusement.
After Mercy and Clara explained everything to Huo Yuhao, the room fell into awkward silence.
"Then, I'll visit the Family Gathering."
"And create some problem." Huo Yuhao suddenly said, which left Rosa speechless. Yet, again. He has the power and ability to do so.
"You four wait here."
The Admante's Young Ladies wanted to complain as they wanted to see everyone getting humiliated by their masters, but they could only look down at the floor in a sulking mood.
Not seeing Alexandra von Admante kneel on the dirt is a wasteful moment.
"Don't make those faces. All of you would get the front seat as I drag Alexandra back to this place with a leash." Huo Yuhao commented while stretching a little. He'll fight or get away with the 2nd Emperor's lost badge.
"Let's go, Rosa." Huo Yuhao headed out.
"Yes, my liege," Rosa answered with a smile, anticipating the incoming event at the Royal Palace Garden.