Chapter 770: The Shadow of the Imperial Throne
Minutes later, Ethan emerged from the private chamber, adjusting the cuffs of his robe. The soberly tailored gala suit, crafted from high-quality black fabric with elegant silver-thread embroidery, fit his frame smoothly. It maintained a refined yet imposing air, and the contrast with the black sword at his hip gave him a formidable presence.
Isabella, who was waiting for him in the corridor, gazed at him for a few seconds before breaking into a radiant smile.
"I have to admit the old man had good taste," the princess commented, delicately adjusting the lapel of Ethan’s outfit. "You look incredible."
"It’s still expensive clothing, but at least this lets me move around without sounding like a sack of coins," Ethan replied with a lazy smirk, offering her his arm.
The elderly butler, impressed by the youth’s transformation and natural posture, offered an impeccable bow.
"This way, Your Excellencies. His Imperial Majesty awaits you in the Crown Chamber."
The group walked through a majestic hallway flanked by jade pillars and golden banners. With every step they took, the density of the spiritual energy in the air surged, becoming almost palpable. Upon arriving before a pair of double bronze gates engraved with spatial containment runes, two guards in the Spiritual Transcendence Realm pushed the heavy doors open.
The hall inside was colossal. A polished crystal floor reflected a vaulted ceiling adorned with magical constellations. At the far end, atop a platform elevated by nine steps, stood a throne of pure gold.
Seated upon it was the Emperor of the Golden Dragon Empire.
He appeared to be a middle-aged man with ash-blond hair, clad in red and gold ceremonial robes. He emitted no obvious spiritual energy fluctuations, yet his mere presence exerted an invisible pressure so heavy that the air itself felt thick and suffocating. On either side of the platform, a handful of high-ranking ministers and elders observed the pair’s entrance with inquisitive gazes.
"Announcing Princess Isabella and Deputy General Ethan of the Soaring Dragon Kingdom," the butler’s voice echoed in the hall.
Ethan and Isabella stepped forward along the crimson carpet, coming to a halt at a respectful distance. Isabella performed an elegant bow of royal etiquette, while Ethan offered a firm nod, keeping his eyes forward without shrinking in the slightest under the supreme ruler’s gaze.
The Emperor rested his face on his fist, scanning Ethan with his sharp, golden eyes.
"So you are the youth so heavily spoken of in the intelligence reports..." the Emperor began, his deep voice echoing off the chamber walls. "An extraordinary young talent who eradicated the rebel sects of the south single-handedly. I must confess I was curious to see whether the rumors were a crown exaggeration or if you truly possessed the mettle to uphold such a legend."
A silence fell over the hall as the ministers locked their eyes on Ethan’s reaction.
"Stories often grow along the road, Your Imperial Majesty," Ethan replied in a calm voice, maintaining an impeccably firm stance. "It was no solitary effort. It was Princess Isabella’s wisdom and guidance that directed my every step on the battlefield. Without her strategic vision and the backing of the Soaring Dragon, I would have been just another warrior amidst the chaos."
Isabella cast a sideways glance at him, her cheeks flushing at the unexpected credit, while King Alaric, watching the scene from the hall’s entrance, let out a quiet sigh of relief at the youth’s diplomatic tact.
The Emperor held Ethan’s gaze for a few agonizing seconds. Then, a subtle yet unreadable smile touched his lips before he let out a low, brief chuckle.
"Wisdom, modesty, and strength... An unusual combination in young talents of this era," the Emperor declared, choosing not to press the matter any further.
The ruler raised his hand, gesturing to the hall’s heralds to formally commence the audience of the heroes.
One by one, the representatives and young prodigies from the various regions of the Empire were announced, stepping forward along the crimson carpet. Their feats echoed across the vaulted chamber: from warriors who had decapitated supreme-rank abyssal beasts along the northern borders, to cultivators who had held lonely mountain passes against entire armies in the western lands.
Not a single hero present paled in comparison to the last. Every figure summoned to the Crown Chamber radiated a formidable presence and a battle aura honed in actual bloodshed, making it abundantly clear that the upcoming Imperial Tournament would be a slaughterhouse between monsters of legendary caliber.
Upon concluding the presentation of the prodigies, the Emperor rose from his throne and raised his right hand in a solemn gesture of greeting toward the group of youths. A hushed gasp instantly rippled across the hall; the diplomats and vassal kings present exchanged glances of astonishment, as not a single sovereign in the room had ever received such direct recognition from the supreme ruler.
"I deeply admire true heroes," the Emperor’s voice declared, echoing with an imposing resonance that vibrated through the glass floor. "Only young blood and unyielding will can cleanse the old blood of eras past and take the future into their own hands. I wish that the heavens grant you long life, crushing victories, and the power required to uphold the destiny of our lands."
The ruler lowered his hand and offered a faint smile.
"Let the banquet of honor begin!" he proclaimed with force.
The massive doors of the Crown Chamber swung wide open, making way for a celestial melody performed by court musicians as dozens of servants entered with spiritual delicacies and spirits of the highest purity, kicking off the celebratory night before the storm of the Imperial Tournament.
As the banquet progressed and the celestial music filled the grand hall, Ethan leaned back in his seat, calmly watching the group of imperial dancers and singers performing in the center of the floor.
Isabella, sitting beside him, glanced at him sideways and then fixed her eyes on the women with a subtly raised eyebrow. Leaning toward him, she whispered in a tone laden with sarcasm and a spark of jealousy.
"You’re drooling over those sluts," Isabella whispered in Ethan’s ear. "If you want, later I’ll get you a couple so you can blow off some steam."
Ethan looked at her sideways with a lazy smirk, taking a sip of spiritual wine as the party’s bustle surrounded them.
"Don’t worry, Your Highness," Ethan replied in an amused whisper. "None of them have enough character to hold my attention."
Isabella huffed and looked away, hiding a smile, as both continued enjoying the opening banquet under the watchful and tense eyes of the Empire’s various powerhouses.