Bang! The golden bowl on the table, along with the fruits inside, scattered all over the floor.

The king, driven crazy by the barrage of messages, angrily slammed the silk table in the palace.

"What is going on?"

He pointed at the ministers working and began a string of curses.

"You are all a bunch of idiots! I didn't feed you just so you could sit there all day doing nothing. And now, the third army commander of the Northern Border Army, Larna, also... sigh!"

The king's crown fell off and rolled to the ground, but he showed no intention of picking it up. Instead, he slumped weakly in his chair, filled with frustration.

During this period, the beast clan launched their first large-scale attack on the Northern Border. None of the eleven S-rank generals sent by the empire returned. Most of the cities in the Northern Border have almost been completely occupied by the beast clan.

"Your Majesty... Please calm down."

Prime Minister Rutherford, full of respect, picked up the crown for the king, carefully wiping it clean with his sleeve before putting it back on the king's head.

"Sigh, even if I calm down, who can calm this broken war situation?!"

"No! Your Majesty, you are just too anxious. Leave the military affairs to the old ministers. As for Your Majesty's duties..."

"What? Don't play games with me. If you have a plan, speak up!"

Prime Minister Rutherford's slow speech only added to the king's agitation.

"Your Majesty, please don't be impatient. At this point, we can only rely on the empire's only four SSS-level warriors to fight against the beastmen. However..."

While speaking, Rutherford exchanged a glance with the other ministers present.

One of the obese ministers understood and expressed his thoughts.

"Your Majesty, Prime Minister Rutherford is correct. However, the empire cannot directly control them, so it will be another matter to request their assistance."

"Yes, I understand what you mean... I will personally go to Durma, okay?"

The situation has reached a deadlock. With only twenty-eight remaining S-rank sorcerers, it is almost impossible to fight against the beast clan's army. If the four SSS-level warriors do not take action soon, there is a constant danger of the entire imperial army being wiped out.

"At this point, we can only grit our teeth and make the trip... Meeting adjourned!"

One of the four esteemed paladins, King Paladin, is still participating in the Eight Kings Tournament in the divine realm and has not returned. The progenitor, on the other hand, comes and goes without a trace.

Indeed, only the Night Queen and the newly arrived person remain.

However, the Night Queen has never intervened in the battles between the empire and the beast clan before, and it is likely to be the same this time!

"Only the new teacher is left."

"Yes, Your Majesty. The person is called Tsubaki 九Juxi, it might be worth a try."

Although the ministers are racking their brains to inspire the king, he still holds no hope. After all, this person seems to have been recommended by the Night Queen, and if his views align with hers, he may not consider this war.

But... the king thought, even if the enemy is not defeated, at least they can be deterred and pushed back, which might still be possible.

"Oh, Your Majesty, daydreaming won't lead to success. What matters is action!"

Finally, with the urging of the ministers, the king took a deep breath and gave orders with two generals by his side.

"Set off, our target - the neighboring Durma Academy!"

And at this moment, deep underground in the imperial capital, I, who have spent countless days and nights, would practice until exhaustion and then sleep, only to wake up and continue practicing.

"Hu! Ha!"

Lan suddenly retracted her weapon and aimed it directly at my abdomen.

"Hehe, it's the same move again. I won't make the same mistake!"

"Me too, I won't use the same move again."

"What?!"

This time, instead of charging at me, she stepped back. At the same time, a cold smile appeared on her face, sending chills down my spine.

The green runes on her spear began to emit a glaring light. Thousand Swords Piercing Heart!

Several green willow leaves spiraled out from the blade of the sword. I panicked as there was no pattern to her attacks, and I had no time to consider which sword to block.

"Hehe, you lost again..."

"That's not necessarily true, senior!"

Realizing something was wrong, she quickly shifted her gaze backwards, and I saw her wielding her spear to block my surprise attack.

Even though it was a fake demon sword, I could still use my energy to perform air teleportation and then follow up with an aerial slash.

"You're fast, but unfortunately, you lack a substantial killing move."

My attack was easily blocked by her hand on her back. It was so effortless for her to catch the demon sword.

Although I knew that the sword in my hand was a replica and far weaker than a real demon sword, it was still unbelievable that she could effortlessly block my full-force attack.

"Hehe, you're making progress. You've finally caught up to my level."

She laughed and extended her pinky finger towards me.

The same condescending attitude as always.

"Hehe, so before, I couldn't even catch up to your level?"

"That's right. You were just a beginner with three-legged cat skills. See you next time!"

After saying that, she walked away without turning back, leaving me alone in the twilight valley next to the Blood Palace of the Netherworld, disappearing from sight.

... Do all masters enjoy playing this damn disappearing act when I have questions?

I was a little puzzled. They were probably afraid of embarrassing themselves by not being able to answer... Haha!

Speaking of the twilight valley, it is the only place in the Netherworld where there is a sun, but it is perpetually in twilight. The sun is like a gem floating on the surface of the sea, never sinking below the horizon.

I only recently learned that the one emitting light is not the sun, but the core of the world... According to legend, the first Shadow King chose to abandon the fight and submit to the rule of the divine realm to protect this red life core.

In the war of the gods, the Shadow King declared defeat in the mortal world and swore never to betray the gods in the future!

Yuanzu is the 13th successor of the Shadow King, and he possesses the most concentrated shadow bloodline in this generation, so it is only fitting for him to become their ruler.

And his demon sword, Sacrificial Blood Sword!

Its origin is unknown, which has always puzzled the previous Shadow Kings.

All of the above is what has been passed down by later generations. Whether it is truly mysterious or just a fabrication is another matter...

Regarding this, I still didn't know at the time. I had already embarked on a path of no return!

But never mind that, let me think about what happened between me and Akigusa Lan.

By the way, I realized that I had unknowingly started using a very intimate way of addressing her.

Looking at her half-empty bottle of lemon water placed on top of a rock, it made me... quite thirsty.

"She is gone. She must have stopped drinking... Oh well, leaving it here would be a waste. I guess I'll drink it for her!"

So I picked up the half-drunk glass of lemonade and chugged it down in one gulp.

Just as I was about to throw away the empty can... wait!!

My eyes involuntarily stared at the opening of the can, where Lan Xuejie's mouth had touched. Did I just... drink it like that...

As I thought about it, my face unknowingly turned red.

"Hey... so Paroni, you're actually a pervert who likes to indirectly kiss girls, huh?"

Just when I was indulging in self-appreciation, I didn't know when he had appeared, suddenly popping his head out from behind me.

"Uh, Master Yuanzhu... when did you come?!"

"Hehehe, don't be nervous, Paroni. I've been observing you for quite a while now."

After countless battles, I had gradually mastered the skills of fighting, but... the magic sword remained the same.

"Is there something wrong with one of the steps?"

"No, it's that you've never paid attention to that step!"

"Never paid attention?"

"That's right."

For some reason, there was a hint of sadness on Master Yuanzhu's face, a feeling that couldn't be shaken off.

"Think carefully. The magic sword is conscious too. It's just that you don't want to connect with her inner self. When I say she is like your lover, it's not for you to protect her, but to learn to understand her, to understand why she has encountered such tragic endings."

"Tragic endings? That's..."

"I don't know."

This time, Master Yuanzhu directly rejected my question, telling me with an extremely cold attitude.

"It's your own problem. You should have met your magic sword by now, right?"

"Met her? I don't understand what you're saying. You mean, met her?"

"Yes, if you hadn't made any unresolved promises, you wouldn't be able to possess your magic sword!"

Master Yuanzhu slapped my back, right where my heart was.

At that moment, along with Master Yuanzhu's voice, there was also someone lingering in my mind, my sister - Nana!

If there was anyone else who could be in the depths of my heart, it would only be my sister... my beloved sister, the only sister who promised to protect her brother!

"It's her..."

I said in an almost incredulous tone, my legs no longer able to support my body as I knelt down on the ground.

"She has never left... she won't let me go?"

"It's not that she won't let you go, but that you won't let her go!"

Just as I whispered to myself, Master Yuanzhu suddenly interrupted me.

"You have tied an unbreakable knot in her life, and this knot is probably the real reason why you can't summon the magic sword."

"Is that so... it's all my fault..."

Tears of fear welled up in my eyes as I found myself unable to accept such a heavy blow for the first time.

"It's me... it's all my fault!"

Everything around me seemed to become blurry, and when I blinked, the valley with the setting sun in front of me suddenly disappeared without a trace, replaced by an elegant and quiet lakeside, with grass gently swaying in the breeze.

By the river, there was an unadorned two-story cabin, next to which my sister was playing with a boy with fiery red hair.

"Nana and... me?"

Just as I was about to reach out to them, they vanished like illusions, leaving me empty-handed.

"Gone?!"

But the house and the jungle lake still surrounded me, trapping me in this seemingly beautiful environment. Why? It felt so familiar, as if I had been here before.

In my mind, I kept flipping through all the information.

I tried desperately to unearth anything from that buried memory of mine...

Finally, it hit me!

"No wonder it feels so familiar..."

Everything here was once mine. This was my former home!