Chapter 201 - Pillar of Royal Authority

The crimson figure stood in the wind, draped in heavy iron armor. The silver-white armor was inlaid with gold-threaded patterns, and red mane extended backward from the helmet like long hair, draping over the back. When a breeze blew past, they swayed, like floating fireworks.

Upon seeing the man’s arrival, the servant on the side saluted, speaking with reverence.

"Lord Glyain."

"Glyain? It’s been a long time since anyone called me that," the man said, his eyes revealing a troubled expression. Then he said, "Call me the Sixth Seat... or the Red Dog. I prefer this name over Glyain."

The servant gazed at the man’s bright, blazing form, thinking that perhaps Red Lion was more fitting for the man than Red Dog.

"His Majesty awaits you."

The servant bowed and cleared the path, and the iron-armored soldiers guarding the area lifted their crossed long halberds. Under the massive archway, the gray-white stone steps layered upward.

Red Dog raised his head, his gaze passing through the archway to see the lone mountain in the Royal City and the grotesque halls that wildly grew atop it.

Thick stone pillars were carved from the steep cliffs, climbing the mountain like snakes entwining trees, filling the mountain with continuous architecture.

The entire mountain top was leveled, and the labyrinthine palace sat there, connected with the architecture sprawling on the mountain cliff. Then, towering spires rose as if to pierce the cloud sea.

Countless griffon statues were placed atop the spires, as if they came from the cloud sea. Wild winds swept between the towering spires, echoing like fierce thunder, as if the griffons came to life, crying in rage, ready to dive at the earth to tear apart invading foes.

"What is it like to live here? It must be lonely and desolate."

Red Dog gazed at the king’s residence and couldn’t help but comment.

Everyone would marvel at the craftsmen’s astounding skills upon seeing it, unable to resist viewing it as a divine creation to worship, but Red Dog felt all this was somewhat superficial.

Majestic, yet filled with the aura of death; it rose high above the mundane world, yet couldn’t touch the true sky.

Over the long years, countless craftsmen devoted their lives to this enormous and grotesque structure; many even spent their entire lives within it.

Initially, it was just a palace atop the mountain; as the Kagader Empire grew, it became increasingly grand, seemingly alive and continuously expanding.

Soon, the structure devoured all the rock on the summit, then hollowed out the interior of the mountain, breaking free from the lone mountain’s constraints. Like bones, the stone pillars protruded from the mountain, transforming themselves into stone pillars that reached the heavens and connected the earth.

Pillar of Royal Authority.

That’s its name, the residence of the Kagader Royal Family, the core of the Royal City, the core of the Empire.

The gray-white stone steps below extended down to the mountain’s base, then into the structure surrounding the mountain. The spiraling stairs led directly to the palace on the summit.

Red Dog stepped onto the stone steps and entered the Pillar of Royal Authority. Along the way, he saw no other person. The entire Pillar of Royal Authority was eerily quiet; only when the fierce wind crashed against the resonators set outside would they burst forth with a sacred, ethereal melody.

Some elderly folks who had lived within the Pillar of Royal Authority said it used to be very lively inside; the court musicians played day and night, and iron-armored guards patrolled the steps with rhythmic iron steps.

But all of this vanished when the King of Slaughter caused the blood-colored night. After that, the Pillar of Royal Authority drove everyone away and completely sealed itself, allowing no one inside except upon the king’s summons.

After that, the Pillar of Royal Authority completely isolated itself from the outside world. No one knew what transpired within, not even the King’s Secret Sword.

Sometimes, when Red Dog gazed at the Pillar of Royal Authority, he couldn’t help but think that perhaps something bizarre and insane was gestating here, but until it breaks out, no one can discern its form.

After a long journey, Red Dog finally reached the summit. He trod upon the bright red carpet, advancing through the tranquil Central Courtyard, surrounded by towering walls that almost blocked out all light.

"Your Majesty."

In the end, Red Dog reached the throne, knelt on one knee, and bowed his head.

The steps piled high, lifting the throne to a lofty height. Anyone wishing to glimpse the throne had to look up, but even when looking up, all they could see was the light streaming down from the dome, and the shadow of the throne cast in the light.

On the way, he saw no other person, leading Red Dog to ponder that perhaps if he killed the king here, no one would know.

"Red Dog."

A deep, hoarse voice sounded, the king spoke, and Red Dog cast aside the chaotic thoughts in his mind.

He was keenly aware of who he faced; the king before him might be the most brutal king in Kagader’s history.

After all, it was he who orchestrated the blood-colored night, earning the moniker King of Slaughter.

"As Your Majesty wished, we’ve gathered a huge amount of Philosopher’s Stones, now delivered to the White Servants."

The White Servants were the servants who guided Red Dog under the Pillar of Royal Authority. After the blood-colored night, only the king and the White Servants who served him resided in this bizarre, grand palace. Not even the King’s Secret Sword could penetrate it.

"It is just that in Oubos, our collection ran into some complications. The Order Bureau attacked us, leaving no survivors."

"Is that so? What a pity, I was quite looking forward to Mammon’s power," the King said with a hint of disappointment, "It seems as though Mammon’s power is fated never to leave Opus, even if we have found a way to solidify it."

The Liquid Spirit Potion, crafted with Mammon Coin, contained a trace of strange power. The King thought he could seize this power, but it still faded away, as if it were destiny.

"Fortunately, there are other Philosopher’s Stones... you did a very good job on that, Red Dog."

The King praised, his voice echoing through the dome, soft-spoken yet transformed into a rumbling thunder when it reached Red Dog’s ears. He looked up but couldn’t see the King’s figure, only a silhouette bathed in sunlight, as if he were conversing with a deity.

"Now, I have a new mission for you."

Red Dog departed with his new mission, his iron boots stamping the ground, the clear sound reverberating, gradually fading away.

The King watched the direction in which Red Dog left, then turned his gaze back to the throne behind him.

Probably even Red Dog couldn’t guess that the King was not actually on the throne. For the current King, that throne was too big, too high. His frail, timid body was not enough to support him climbing onto it.

"What a terrifying price to pay..."

Looking at his own hands, shriveled like a mummy’s, the King murmured.

Since the Night of Blood, the King had almost ceased to appear before the people. In fact, most of the King’s Secret Sword had never truly seen the King, even if they were bestowed with the Secret Sword, it was done through the White Servants.

Everyone had different speculations about the King, but no one could imagine that the current King appeared so hunchbacked. His body showed a bizarre sickliness, covered with black spots of death.

His sallow skin clung to his bones, his body emaciated like a mummy’s. He wrapped himself in a layer of gray cloth to conceal his body.

The White Servants emerged from the darkness, lifting the chair beneath the King, carrying him away reverently.

Without needing the King’s command, the White Servants knew where to go next. They advanced within the labyrinthine Pillar of Royal Authority, sitting on a lift, descending through the deep tunnels.

For a hundred years, craftsmen had cut through the mountain, making the space within the Pillar of Royal Authority far more complex than it appeared from the outside. In the dimness came the King’s pained breathing, but it was the only sound. The White Servants, like corpses, had no breath, no voice, silently executing commands.

The descent lasted for about ten minutes, seemingly passing beneath the surface, deeper into the underground. In the darkness, a cloying stench emerged, as if countless pieces of flesh and limbs filled the blackened corners.

The foul smell grew stronger, as if stepping into a monster’s lair. A common person would wretch at the stench, but the King’s face showed a rare expression of enjoyment, adding a hint of vitality to his sickly body.

The gates opened, revealing a massive underground space. Dark rocks covered the ceiling, but near the ground, red moss grew in abundance... no, not moss, but flesh growing twisted like moss, with bud-like tendrils swaying, crawling along the rock walls.

The air was damp and decayed. The King struggled to stand, his shadow wavering as he walked forward. At the end of the fleshy moss lay a still crimson lake.

The most conspicuous scarlet floated on its surface, resembling a lake filled with blood. As the King approached, ripples began to emanate across the surface, then boiled violently, shaking the entire cavern as if a gargantuan creature was awakening.

The White Servants stepped forward, carrying heavy boxes. They opened the boxes before the King, pouring handfuls of Philosopher’s Stones into the Blood Lake, but it did not quell the restlessness until massive, blood-veined white tendrils rose from beneath the lake.

They flailed wildly in the air, sweeping up the nearby White Servants along with the Philosopher’s Stones into the blood. The crunching of bones being chewed resounded.

The King showed no fear; instead, he quickened his pace, shouting at the turbulent lake surface.

"Your loyal servant offers you sacrifices!"

More White Servants approached, throwing more Philosopher’s Stones into the Blood Lake and getting swept below by the tendrils. Throughout the process, no one felt fear; not even cries of agony were heard before death.

Only the creature within the lake feasted greedily, alongside the King’s devout pleas.

The surface of the lake calmed again, mirror-like. The King had already stepped into the Blood Lake, gazing at his reflection in the crimson mirror. Then his image shattered, reflecting into countless ones below the lake’s surface, as if thousands of mirrors were reflecting himself.

Looking from higher above, one would realize it wasn’t merely broken mirror images, but a massive, insect-like compound eye.

"Ah... it’s you."

A woman’s languid voice rose. Amidst the bloodshed, a pair of white arms ripped open the compound eye, reaching out from the gushing blood. The woman draped in blood-woven red garments appeared.

She smiled enchantingly at the King, cradling his aged head in her hands, baptizing him by submerging him into the blood. When the King rose from the blood again, the woman and the bizarre gigantic compound eye had vanished, leaving him alone standing in the blood.

His blurred vision sharpened, power surged through his entire body, even his stiff joints loosened. The King lowered his head, seeing a face many years younger reflected beneath the blood surface.

Not long after, lunatic laughter echoed through the cavern. He laughed, madly calling out.

"Xilin... Xilin... my child..."

Outstretching his hand, the King pleaded.

"Red Dog, please retrieve my child."