Chapter 310: Chapter 310 : Arrival

The tension in the meeting hall was already high.

Cian Aurelias suddenly slammed his hand on the obsidian table, the sharp crack echoing through the room. “That’s enough. How long do we have to wait for that arrogant kid?” he snapped. “It’s already been more than an hour. He’s doing it deliberately. He’s disrespecting all of us.”

No one at the table replied.

Damon, the Vampire King, finally spoke, voice calm. “If he doesn’t come, there’s nothing we can do about it. We—”

“He’ll come, Father,” Lilith said softly from beside his chair.

Damon turned his crimson gaze toward her. “What makes you so sure, Lilith?”

Lilith only smiled faintly. “Nothing. Just my instincts.”

Her words left the room momentarily baffled.

Sylphoria, the Faerie Queen, rose from her seat, her silver eyes narrowing slightly. “Damon, let’s start the meeting. We can’t wait forever, can we?”

Damon nodded. “Very well.”

He looked around the table. “To begin… most of our defenses have already collapsed. The enemy gains ground every day. Our forces keep breaking. At this point, there’s only one realistic option left—unite all of our armies and strike them together.”

Thalion Moonshade inclined his head. “I agree with Damon. The enemy is benefitting from our division. If this continues, they will pick us off one by one.”

Cian cut in sharply. “And what makes you two so sure that even if we unite our forces, we’ll be able to push them back?”

Selvic Storm Everforge snorted. “You’re speaking as if you have a better idea. If you do, lay it on the table, Mr. Temporary Pope.”

Cian shot him a glare. “Of course I do.”

Every eye turned toward him.

“First,” Cian said, “you all help me fortify the Holy Empire’s defenses. Then you fund our Ceremony of Ascension, where we pray for our goddess to descend into the body of the chosen one, Ethan… and vanquish all our enemies.”

He folded his hands. “The ritual is enormous. The Holy Empire cannot fund it alone. So you will have to help.”

For a moment, the monarchs were stunned into silence.

Sylphoria was the first to speak. “And how sure are you that Ethan alone will be able to defeat them all?”

Saintess Liana stepped forward beside Cian, bowing slightly. “With all due respect, that’s blasphemy. You must have faith in our goddess.”

Sylphoria’s face flushed with anger. “You want me to gamble everything on this nonsense faith of yours? To wager my entire race on your ritual and a boy?”

Around the table, several monarchs murmured their agreement. Cian wasn’t simply asking for help—he wanted their armies and funds on nothing more than belief, without any guarantee.

“We agree with Sylphoria, Cian,” Thalion said quietly.

Cian’s face turned red with fury. He pushed his chair back and stood, about to retort—

When one of the magic circles engraved into the floor flared to life, bursting into radiant light.

A slow smile spread across Lilith’s face. “He’s here,” she whispered.

From the glowing magic circle, three figures materialized in the center of the hall.

Alex. Alicia. Evelyn.

Alex stood in casual attire—dark jeans, fitted white shirt, sleeves rolled to his forearms. His long silver hair was tied back, exposing sharp features and clear blue eyes. Even dressed simply, he looked like a model who had wandered into a war council by accident.

Alicia, by contrast, was dressed properly for the occasion. She wore a tailored dark-blue coat over a white blouse, with a fitted skirt and high boots. A small crest of Avaloria’s royal family was pinned to her chest. Her white hair fell neatly down her back, and her green eyes were sharp and alert.

Evelyn wore a black military-style coat over a deep crimson vest and white shirt, dark trousers tucked into polished boots. A series of enchanted badges and insignias lined her chest, marking her authority in Avaloria. Her golden hair was tied into a low ponytail, her gaze calm and calculating.

Silence filled the room as every eye turned toward them.

The monarchs also noticed something else—the faint, dangerous presence hiding in Alex’s shadow. Erwin.

They began measuring Alex’s aura, comparing it to what they knew. Cian frowned. ’He’s barely at Grandmaster (low) rank… Then how did he fight an existence surpassing monarch-level and survive?’

Similar doubts flickered in the minds of the others.

“So this is the place where the big shots of our world decide the fate of their countries, huh,” Alex said, glancing around.

A crushing pressure suddenly descended on him.

Cian Aurelias had unleashed his aura, directing monarch-level pressure straight at Alex. The weight smashed down over him, trying to force him to his knees.

Alex’s legs trembled. For a moment, his knees almost buckled—

Then the symbol on his right wrist flared to life.

The overwhelming aura shattered around him like glass, dispersing in an instant.

Alicia stepped closer. “Are you alright?” she asked, concern slipping into her voice.

“I’m fine,” Alex replied. “Don’t worry.”

All six rulers stared, stunned.

They could clearly see that Alex’s visible rank was only Grandmaster (low). And yet, he had just shrugged off the full pressure of a monarch.

Lilith’s expression turned serious as she leaned toward Damon. “Father, that wasn’t a good idea,” she whispered. “That Cian Aurelias guy is an idiot. He shouldn’t have done that.”

She lowered her voice even further. “I already told you—Alex doesn’t take hostility very well.”

Damon sighed.

He stood up from his chair, then inclined his head slightly toward Alex. “My apologies, Mr. Alex. It’s a test that every ruler in this alliance has to go through.”

He shot Cian a glare. Cian looked away, scowling.

“Please don’t think too much of it,” Damon continued. “He only did that because many here doubted that you possessed the strength you’re rumored to have and even after witnessing it once we wanted to confirm. But now… we all believe you.”

Alex locked eyes with him.

Ocean blue met deep blood-red.

’This guy has a brain,’ Alex thought. ’He spread the blame for Cian’s stunt across everyone so I don’t lash out at just one. Smart. A good leader.’

—

Evelyn’s voice reached his ear in a quiet murmur. “Alex. Calm down. Remember why we came.”

He inhaled slowly.

“Take a deep breath and let it go,” she continued. “Sometimes we have to let things slide. Pretend it’s nothing.”

Cian was smirking at him from across the table, as if this was all a joke.

Alicia leaned closer. “Don’t worry. We’ll deal with that asshole when the chance comes. Right now isn’t the time.”

Alex looked at her and gave a faint smile. “Don’t worry. I’m fine. Perfectly fine.”

He turned back to the table. “So,” he asked, voice steady, “are you satisfied now?”

All six rulers nodded.

“Good,” Alex said. “Because now let’s see if *you* can endure it.”

[ Skill: Origin Collapse has been activated. ]

The air changed.

A crushing pressure erupted from Alex, flooding the room in an instant.

The weight slammed down on the monarchs like a mountain. Chairs creaked, the obsidian table groaned. One by one, their knees buckled under the invisible force—they barely kept themselves from collapsing fully, muscles straining, sweat dripping down their faces.

Breaths turned ragged. Hands gripped the armrests hard enough to crack them.

“Okay, that’s enough,” Alicia whispered urgently into Alex’s ear. “Remember—we need them.”

The crushing pressure dissolved as suddenly as it had appeared.

[ Skill: Origin Collapse has been deactivated. ]

All six monarchs gasped for air, chest heaving as they stared at Alex in disbelief and horror.

Only one word came to mind.

’Monster.’

Their attendants reacted instantly, stepping forward, surrounding Alex in a loose circle.

“Don’t move,” one of them said, hands on their weapons.

Alex’s expression didn’t change. In a low voice, he said, “Erwin. It’s time to lay down your life for me.”

Thin wires of dark steel suddenly glittered in the air.

Every attendant felt a cold line tighten around their necks.

Erwin materialized from the shadows behind them, eyes narrowed. “Don’t move an inch,” he said calmly, “or your heads will roll across the floor.”

Silence crashed over the hall.

Alex smiled faintly. “I’m genuinely impressed, Erwin. You really are something.”

“Your Majesty,” Erwin replied, “say the word, and they will pay for their disrespect.”

“I think they’ve learned their lesson,” Alex said. “Let them go.”

Erwin loosened the wires instantly, stepping back into the background. The attendants retreated to their places, shaken.

Alex looked around the table, a smirk tugging at his lips.

“Looks like you all passed my test,” he said. “So then…”

He pulled out a chair and sat down.

“Let’s begin the meeting.”

——-

Alex took his seat at the table while Alicia and Evelyn remained standing just behind him, one on each side like sharp-eyed guardians.

Cian Aurelias’ irritated voice cut through the tense air. “Alright, I acknowledge that you’re strong,” he said, glaring at Alex’s outfit, “but what kind of ruler comes to a meeting dressed like that? Are you mocking us?”

Alex didn’t even flinch. “I only dress up for people that I respect.”

Silence dropped over the hall.

Cian slammed his hand on the table again. “See? What did I tell you? He doesn’t respect any of us!”

Eleanor Aqualis spoke up calmly. “And what’s wrong with that?”

Cian turned to her, taken aback.

Eleanor’s violet eyes stayed on Alex. “What have we done to earn his respect? We didn’t help them when they needed us most.”

She lowered her head slightly. “I apologize for my misjudgment before.”

One by one, the other monarchs rose from their seats.

Sylphoria stood and bowed her head. Thalion followed. Selvic inclined his stout form in respect. Even Damon gave a small but genuine nod, crimson eyes steady. Each of them offered their apology—for not being able to help the human empire when it had been on the brink.

Only Cian remained seated, jaw tight, refusing to bow.

Alex glanced at Alicia and gave a small nod.

Alicia stepped forward. “With all due respect,” she said, voice clear, “the past is the past. Right now, we need to worry about the future. We don’t need your apologies.”

She looked around the table. “Let’s just find a way to overcome the crisis we’re *all* facing.”

The monarchs nodded in agreement and slowly retook their seats.

Suddenly, a soft chime sounded from the device held by an attendant standing beside Eleanor.

The man tapped the device, and his form shimmered—collapsing into motes of light that reformed into a woman.

A beautiful lady now stood at Eleanor’s side.

Her hair was a deep, rich crimson that cascaded down her back in smooth waves, catching the light like liquid fire. Her brown eyes were warm yet sharp, framed by long lashes.

Her features were delicate but striking—a refined nose, soft lips curved in a confident smile, and a graceful figure wrapped in a sea-blue dress that hugged her waist and flowed like water around her legs.

She looked at Eleanor. “Mother,” she said, her voice composed, “I take back my previous words. I will gladly be engaged to him… if it means saving our country.”

Then she turned toward Alex and smiled.

Stepping forward with poise, she stopped in front of him. “Alex Dragonheart,” she said, meeting his eyes without flinching, “I, Vanessa Aqualis, wish to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you accept?”

The entire hall fell silent.

Every jaw dropped at the sight before them—the Mermaid Princess boldly proposing in the middle of a war council.

Alex stared at her for a moment.

Inside, one dry thought crossed his mind. ’Another crazy bitch spotted. Just my luck.’

When suddenly, from behind Alex, two voices overlapped in perfect sync.

Alicia and Evelyn stepped forward slightly, eyes cold, aura leaking menace as they glared at Vanessa.

“Back off, bitch.”

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