Vol 3. Chapter 87: Yuan’er’s Arrival
The black meteor that came hurtling down directly caused the skies above Skyvault to be enveloped in black light. And descending upon the city along with that black light was a terrifying pressure that sent chills through everyone's hearts.
The barrier protecting Skyvault in the sky clashed violently with the black light before cracks began spreading across its surface.
After several seconds of violent impact, the barrier finally became unable to withstand the pressure. A massive opening exploded through it, and that horrifying aura of Shadow of Silence Power poured down from the sky like a flood bursting through a dam, instantly making the people inside Skyvault feel a suffocating terror.
"Demon King-Class?! The Abyss Demons have breached the city!!"
Although Xue Tianao's elite forces had been annihilated by the Abyss Demon horde, the city walls and barriers protecting the civilians were still intact, allowing many people to barely suppress their fear.
But now, under everyone's terrified gazes, a legendary Demon King-Class existence had suddenly descended directly into the city.
At that moment, the last scraps of composure remaining within people's hearts completely shattered, and they plunged into a bottomless abyss of fear.
Order and rules ceased to exist.
The crowd began desperately fleeing toward the southern part of the city without caring about anything else. Even some guards and sentries whose minds weren't firm enough joined the mass exodus, and the entire city was engulfed in chaos.
The once most prosperous central district had now become a complete mess. All kinds of merchandise were scattered across the streets, and quite a few people had even begun taking advantage of the chaos to loot, attacking shops throughout the district......
However, the shopkeepers had no energy to care about any of that now.
There was only one thought in their minds.
Survive.
For that,
they had to escape Skyvault as quickly as possible.
......
Inside Dragon Dance Square, Xue Tianao stared fixedly at the black light blooming within the distant city district.
'That is...... the aura of a Demon King-Class?'
"Is this ever fucking going to end?!"
Unable to suppress his rage any longer, Xue Tianao lost his composure and roared furiously. The sheer volume of his roar, combined with the powerful mana contained within his words, caused the surrounding Royal Knights to turn their heads and look at their emperor in bewilderment.
At that moment, however, Xue Tianao's brows suddenly furrowed again.
Wait?
The place where that Abyss Demon landed?
Wasn't that...... the location of Kosov-Lun Prison and the Grand Court?
The place where political prisoners were being held?
Why?
Why would it attack that place?
For a moment, Xue Tianao's blue eyes were filled with confusion.
--
Meanwhile,
inside the Imperial Prison behind the Imperial City, Gafei and the other researchers loyal to Xue Tianao had, under the Nightingale Organization's attentive 'care,' enjoyed a long-overdue good night's sleep, sleeping straight from last night until now.
Any researchers who happened to wake up midway were promptly sent back to dreamland by the Nightingale girls with thick spiked clubs......
In the central area of the Imperial Prison,
which was precisely where Flame Prison had originally been imprisoned,
an incomparably beautiful black-haired girl surrounded by countless fluttering blood-red butterflies was quietly kneeling on the ground.
Meanwhile, a red-haired woman who looked extremely 'weak,' with a greatsword still embedded in her chest, obediently rested her head on the black-haired girl's thighs, her eyes closed as she silently rested......
At the same time,
beside the black-haired girl stood Saiboke, an old butler dressed in elegant clothing whose every movement radiated 'nobility and refinement.' Holding a communication magic stone, he carefully reported the situation outside to the black-haired girl:
"Lady Yumo, those more than two hundred thousand mindless Abyss Demons transformed from human soldiers have all been eliminated for us by Xue Tianao's forces. With this, Lady Yumo, you won't need to worry about the Abyss Demon population becoming excessive or how to settle those Abyss Demons in the future. In addition, the former Blizzard Knights and the northern forces were frightened by us into hiding inside Wind Facing City. They were at least smart enough not to come out and engage us."
Hearing this, the black-haired girl before Saiboke slowly opened those bewitchingly beautiful crimson gemstone eyes and revealed a satisfied smile.
"Mm, very good. Keep holding them there. Just don't let them come reinforce Skyvault."
"Understood, Lady Yumo."
......
......
Just as Lady Yumo and Saiboke were discussing the battle situation outside, the earth suddenly began trembling.
A powerful aura abruptly entered the prison, causing Lady Yumo to slightly raise her brows.
"Hm? This aura?"
"Lady Yumo, this is......"
Saiboke looked toward the ceiling in confusion.
This sudden pressure from an unfamiliar Shadow of Silence Power was, frankly speaking, something completely outside their plans.
It was therefore no wonder that a trace of unease flashed through Saiboke's eyes.
After all, was this new Demon King-Class existence a friend or an enemy?
What kind of attitude did she have toward Lady Yumo?
They truly didn't know.
After all, that child had previously been human!
Saiboke opened an umbrella to shield Lady Yumo from the dust falling from above, then asked curiously,
"This Demon King-Class aura...... Is it that girl?"
"Mm."
Yumo nodded slightly, confirming Saiboke's guess.
"Yes. It's Yuan'er......"
As she spoke, a complicated emotion couldn't help flashing through Lady Yumo's eyes.
After such a long disappearance, there was finally news of the child again, so Yumo was naturally happy.
It was just that Yuan'er seemed to have appeared at a somewhat inconvenient time......
"But why did that child suddenly come to Skyvault?"
"Perhaps she came to rescue the Marquis and his wife?"
Saiboke guessed from beside her.
"That should be it."
"But, Lady Yumo, if that's the case, Lady Yuan'er might run into the people we sent to take advantage of the chaos and rescue them, right? What...... should we do about that? In that child's eyes, the Nightingale members might also be enemies......"
As he brought this up, the worry on Saiboke's aged face became impossible to conceal.
What if the members of the Nightingale Organization were killed by Lady Yumo's child?
Wouldn't that be one hell of a ridiculous misunderstanding?
They were obviously all trying to rescue Marquis Xiumu-Duke and his wife~
"That...... really is a problem."
Yumo bit her lip with complicated feelings.
Just then, Karina, who had been resting against Yumo's thighs and happily basking in her mother's presence for quite some time, slowly opened her sleepy eyes.
Looking at Lady Yumo with a hazy gaze, she murmured,
"Good morning, Mother."
"Hm? You're awake, Little Na?"
"Mm~"
Looking at the red-haired woman resting on her thighs, as obedient and adorable as a little kitten, Yumo smiled warmly and raised her hand to gently stroke her daughter's head.
"Good morning, Little Na. Did you rest well?"
"Mm. With Mother beside me, very well."
Karina smiled faintly.
Then, the red-haired woman revealed a puzzled expression.
"Mother, what were you and Little Sai talking about just now?...... This Yuan'er you mentioned is?"
"Yuan'er? She's the new little sister I told you about last night. The little one who was only recently born."
Yumo explained softly.
Hearing this, Karina revealed a slightly stunned expression.
"A new little sister? Didn't you say she'd disappeared before? Why would she suddenly come here now?"
"Well, she probably came to rescue Marquis Xiumu-Duke and his wife?"
"To save her grandfather and grandmother? It seems Little Sister has retained quite a bit of her humanity. But......"
As she spoke, worry gradually appeared on Karina's beautiful face.
"But, Mother, there are so many powerful experts inside Skyvault right now, including quite a few Eighth-Tier powerhouses. If Yuan'er barges in here all by herself, she'll immediately become everyone's target. Won't...... won't she be in danger?"
"Mm, that's true......"
"Then, Mother, what are you planning to do?"
"......"
Faced with Karina's question, Yumo somewhat apologetically stroked her daughter's cheek.
"Sorry, Little Na. I won't be able to stay with you for now. I'm planning to go deal with the situation on your little sister's side first."
Hearing this, a trace of reluctance couldn't help flashing through Karina's eyes.
However, compared to fulfilling her desire to spend more intimate time with Mother, ensuring her little sister's safety was obviously far more important.
After all, she was a responsible older sister.
Thus, Karina slowly sat up and nodded toward Yumo, her face returning to its usual mature expression.
"I understand, Mother. You should go. I'll take good care of myself."
"Mm, good girl."
Yumo was quite satisfied with Karina's thoughtfulness, and a gratified smile slowly appeared on her incomparably beautiful face.
Then,
Yumo glanced toward Saiboke beside her, as well as Zhong Xizhi and Qiu Mingtong behind him.
"Take good care of Karina."
"Understood, Lady Yumo."
The three replied in unison.
Seeing this, Yumo said nothing more.
Crimson Shadow of Silence Power slowly began rippling around her body. Surrounded by red light, Lady Yumo transformed into countless blood-red butterflies and disappeared before everyone's eyes......
'What a troublesome child......'