"Remember our agreement? I’ve only just returned and have no achievements to my name. If I want the support of the ministers and nobles, I need results."
"Get to the point," Liam said.
Leona turned grave. "In the Astral Kingdom, there is a place called Black-Wind Mountain. It’s infested with a gang of ruthless bandits. I want you to help me wipe them out."
Mission: Destroy Black-Wind Stronghold
Requirements: Annihilate the Black-Wind Stronghold.
Penalty: Unknown.
Reward: Unknown.
Liam raised an eyebrow. "Black-Wind Stronghold is a Level 30 zone."
"With your strength, you should have a chance, right?"
Liam shook his head.
Leona’s expression shifted. "Is there a problem?"
"Yes. Hunting down a Level 30 stronghold is child's play. How is that a 'great merit'?" Liam asked bluntly. "People will just see you as a clown putting on a show for attention."
His words made Leona’s face darken. "I know that, but given your current situation, destroying that stronghold should be your limit."
Liam shook his head again. "Who told you that was my limit? What if I told you I could kill Valerius Geryon, the sealed son of the Demon King?"
"That’s impossible!!" Leona blurted out. "Valerius Geryon is still in a Sealed State. How do you plan to kill him? Break the seal? No one will allow that."
Liam maintained a calm smile. "He is indeed sealed, but I know the seal has already begun to crack. Those Night-Walkers from The Demon's Den are already lurking, waiting for their chance to break him out."
Leona’s expression turned even more solemn. "Frost Monarch, how do you know these things?"
Liam chuckled. "Does it matter?"
Leona took a deep breath, dropping the questioning. "Are you serious? You can kill Valerius Geryon without breaking the seal?"
"I am. You can go back right now and tell the King and those ministers that you can kill him without touching the seal."
"Don't set me up for disaster!" Leona was still worried. The claim was simply too absurd. If killing him without breaking the seal were possible, the Astral Kingdom would have done it ages ago.
"I'm an Adventurer. What would I gain from sabotaging you?" Liam shrugged. "Of course, if you don't believe me, then forget I said anything."
Liam didn't care. If Leona doubted him, he could just find another princess to support.
"I believe you." After a brief hesitation, Leona’s gaze hardened. "Frost Monarch, you’re different from other Adventurers. I trust your ability. I’ll return now and inform my parents, the ministers, and the nobles."
Liam grinned with satisfaction. "You’ve made the right choice."
Leona’s breath hitched. For some reason, she felt a chilling certainty that if she had doubted him again, the throne would have slipped through her fingers forever.
After parting ways with Leona, Liam decided to level up first. Every point of Infamy he could reduce helped.
Venom-Green Spider (Common): Level 20
HP: 2450/2450
Attack: 108
Skills: Web Entanglement, Venom Bolt
Normal mobs in Twilight of the Gods were relatively forgiving, with generally low stats. Liam raised his hand and fired an arrow.
-2450.
You have killed a Venom-Green Spider. EXP +400.
You have reached Level 2.
The experience from killing high-level mobs was impressive. Even a common monster gave 400 EXP.
Liam fired another arrow. Chain Lightning proc'd, surging through eighteen nearby spiders. Their two thousand HP couldn't withstand the damage; they were vaporized instantly.
You have reached Level 3.
You have reached Level 4.
Regaining lost levels didn't grant additional Attribute Points (AP); it only restored his level. Liam continued his grind.
In the Grand Throne Hall of the Astral Kingdom, Leona presented her proposal. It was met with immediate, uproarious laughter.
"Leona, my dear sister, did Hanba the Drought-Bringer cook your brain in that Novice Village? What kind of nonsense is this?"
Seraphina’s voice was dripping with mockery. As the Second Princess, she had been building her power base for a long time and was a formidable contender for the throne.
"Princess Leona, you should think before you speak. Killing Valerius Geryon without breaking the seal? Is that even possible?" Chancellor Kaslow sneered, showing no respect for the recently returned princess.
Upon the throne, the elderly King Abraham raised a hand. The hall fell silent.
"Leona, as members of the Royal Family, our words must carry the weight of our strength. Have you considered the consequences if you fail?"
Leona took a deep breath. She had expected this. Choosing to be here meant absolute trust in Liam. "Father, Mother, I wouldn't say this if I weren't certain I could do it."
As soon as she spoke, Seraphina challenged her. "And if you fail? What then?"
King Abraham looked at her. "Indeed. There must be a penalty. Otherwise, any fool could walk into this hall and spout lies. Where would our royal dignity be?"
Leona bit her lip. There was no turning back. "If I fail, I will voluntarily withdraw from the succession!!"
She finally said it. Without such a stake, they wouldn't let it go.
Seraphina couldn't hide her smile. One less competitor was a welcome development. As for actually killing the demon prince without breaking the seal? Impossible. Absolutely impossible. If such a method existed, Valerius Geryon would have been dead years ago.
The court was a nest of schemes, but most were secretly pleased. With one less player in the game, picking a side became easier.
However, King Abraham was surprised. He shared Seraphina's skepticism, but he looked deeper. If Leona had no hope at all, she wouldn't bet her entire future. She had to have a trump card.
"Very well, Leona. I look forward to his death. If you succeed, the Stellar Mercantile shall be yours to manage!"
The hall erupted in shock. Seraphina’s face darkened instantly. The Stellar Mercantile was the economic backbone of the kingdom, providing over a third of its revenue.
But Seraphina quickly regained her composure. The task was impossible. What did it matter if the King promised her the world? Leona would never touch it. Instead, she would lose everything.
"Yes, Father. I will not fail you," Leona bowed respectfully.
"Then allow me to congratulate you in advance on becoming the Guild Master of the Stellar Mercantile," Seraphina drawled, her sarcasm biting.
"Thanks," Leona replied without even looking at her. She bowed to the King once more. "I will go and prepare."
"Go."
Leona rushed back to the spider forest. When she arrived, she saw Liam effortlessly dodging a Venom-Green Spider King’s poison spray. He fired a single arrow into its open maw, the shaft tearing straight through its body.
You have killed the Venom-Green Spider King. EXP +17,658. Solitary Snow Guild Achievement +200.
You have reached Level 12. AP +5.
You have achieved the World First for the Venom-Green Spider King. A Server-Wide Broadcast is about to begin. Hide name?
"No."
Server-Wide Broadcast: Congratulations to player Frost Monarch for achieving the World First kill of the Venom-Green Spider King!
Liam was used to the announcements. He looted the corpse while asking, "Well?"
"It's done," Leona said succinctly. "And I put my claim to the throne on the line."
"One day."
"What?" Leona blinked.
"Within one day, Valerius Geryon will be dead. The sound of his demise will echo throughout the entire Astral Kingdom."
Liam’s tone was flat, matter-of-fact. Leona stared at him, her heart racing. One day? Killing the sealed prince in one day? She almost felt like he was playing her, but she couldn't see the motive.
"Fine. If you can do it, the reward will be immense for both of us."
"Go back. Wait for the sound of his death."
Leona nodded. She had chosen Liam over the Village Chief back in the starting village. Now, she was doubling down on this absurdity. To win the throne, she had to go all in.
Once Leona left, Liam pulled out The Tome of Mortality and wrote the name: Valerius Geryon.
Deep beneath the Well of Shattered Stars, the demon prince was imprisoned. Two white-robed elders, the kingdom's top Array Mages, stood guard, trying in vain to reinforce the crumbling seal. The Primal Mana in the demon's blood was relentless.
Leona arrived at the site, wanting to see how Liam would pull it off. Seraphina was already there, watching with a mocking smile.
"Leona, you're here? I can't wait to see how you 'kill' him," Seraphina teased.
"Then keep your eyes open and watch," Leona replied, sitting down and closing her eyes to rest.
Seraphina huffed and sat nearby. In the shadows, many others watched. Valerius Geryon was a sword hanging over the kingdom's head. Moreover, this was tied to the succession. Anyone with a brain knew Leona wasn't suicidal; she had to have a plan.
Suddenly, the two elders turned pale. The sealing array began to tremble. A roar of fury erupted from the depths of the Well.
"Damn you! What are you doing to me?! Why is this happening?!"
Valerius Geryon was already weakened, his health below a third of its peak. While sealed, he couldn't use skills or trigger passive health regeneration. He had planned to slowly erode the Grand Sealing Array, but now, his health was plummeting.
-14,654.
-14,654.
The damage was constant. Over 14,000 damage per second. That was 800,000 a minute—50 million an hour. At this rate, he wouldn't last thirty minutes.
"Argh! Who is it?! Show yourself! I'll tear you to pieces!!"
The prince screamed, but trapped in his Sealed State, he could only watch his life slip away. The roars echoed, drawing every eye to Leona. Shock, disbelief, and fury filled the air. Seraphina was livid. The Night-Walkers hidden within the Royal Palace were even more desperate.
Leona maintained a facade of calm, looking as if everything were going according to plan. Inside, however, her mind was reeling. She couldn't begin to fathom how Liam was doing this.
Valerius Geryon’s anger turned to pure terror. "What are you waiting for?! Move! If you don't act now, I'm dead!!"
The hidden Night-Walkers could no longer stay silent. Tearing off their disguises, they struck. A soldier suddenly drove a blade into his comrade's back. The victim stared in shock as his life bled out, and before he could react, his head was taken in a single, brutal stroke.