Chapter 31: Chapter 30: Elf Queen Galadriel
Ryuu calmed Artoria with a nod before speaking.
"There are plenty of empty rooms here, Saber. Pick whichever one you like and make yourself at home."
"Understood, Master."
With that, Artoria turned and ascended the grand staircase, her expression showing interest in her surroundings.
Meanwhile, Ryuu rested his fingers against his eyes, his excitement barely contained. The power surging within him was intoxicating—his strength had skyrocketed beyond limits he once thought impossible.
His newly acquired Mangekyō Sharingan granted him abilities far beyond what he previously wielded. In addition to the techniques he had specifically chosen—Tsukuyomi and Kamui—the Mangekyō also unlocked forbidden arts such as Susanoo, Izanagi, and Izanami, making it one of the most cost-effective powers he had ever gained.
Of course, he was aware of the side effects—excessive use would eventually lead to blindness.
But with Phoenix's Tears stored safely in his inventory, Ryuu wasn't particularly concerned. If he ever did go blind, he could simply heal himself.
Now, there was something else to take care of—Nitta Haruto and his group.
Ryuu frowned. He had no idea where they had gone, and it irritated him. The thought of them moving freely while he was occupied in another world made his blood boil.
More importantly, something felt off—he had spent over a month in the Fate/Grand Order Singularity, yet upon returning, his surroundings showed no signs of time passing. Not a single speck of dust had settled in his castle.
That's when a thought struck him.
"System, how much time has passed here since I left for the Fate world?"
"The host's world operates at a 1:10 time ratio compared to the alternate world. In other words, while you spent over a month in the Fate Singularity, only three days have passed here."
"Three days, huh?" Ryuu muttered, tapping his chin thoughtfully.
That meant Haruto and his group couldn't have traveled too far. If they were still after the Ring of the Sage, he could intercept them before they got their hands on it.
Not wanting to waste time, Ryuu immediately spent 1,000 Demon King Points to purchase Clairvoyance.
Although it wasn't as powerful as the True Clairvoyance from the Fate world that could see through past and future timelines, it was more than enough for his needs—allowing him to view any location in the world with absolute clarity.
Activating it, Ryuu's vision shot across vast distances, locking onto the Sword-Casting Furnace, the very place where Nitta Haruto and his allies had forced him to jump into the lava.
The area was still a ruin, lava continuing to churn within the depths of the furnace. Clearly, the Infernal Flame he had released before leaving hadn't been enough to fully destroy the place.
Shifting his focus, Ryuu searched further and found Haruto's group trekking through the dense Elf Forest, only two or three days away from reaching the Elven capital.
The sight of them laughing and chatting without a care in the world sent a surge of fury through him.
"So… you're after the Ring of the Sage, huh?" Ryuu narrowed his eyes. "Fine. Let's see who gets there first."
The Ring of the Sage was a legendary artifact capable of drastically enhancing magical power, elevating even high-level spellcasters into supreme-class magicians.
There was no way in hell he was going to let the heroes get their hands on it.
Without hesitation, Ryuu activated Kamui, distorting space around himself—his body disappeared into a vortex.
---
Elf Forest
Deep within the Elven capital, Queen Galadriel sat at the head of a long wooden table, surrounded by the Elders of the Elven Council.
Their discussion was grave.
"The Hero's party is nearing our territory," one of the elders reported.
"They must be coming for the Ring of the Sage," another added, his voice tinged with concern. "My Queen, what shall we do?"
Galadriel's golden eyes shimmered as she closed them in contemplation.
"The Ring of the Sage is a divine relic bestowed upon our people by the gods themselves," she finally spoke. "If they seek it, then we shall grant it to them."
Her words caused a stir among the council.
"But Your Majesty, that ring is the reason our kingdom has remained standing for so long!" one elder protested. "Without it, our magical defenses will weaken, and our enemies—"
"There is one among the Hero's party whom we cannot risk opposing," another elder interjected grimly.
A heavy silence filled the chamber.
All of them knew who he meant.
The Divine Executioner.
The mere thought of that godlike figure, the one responsible for wiping out half a continent in a single divine judgment, was enough to send a chill through the room.
"...And what of the Demon King?" another elder asked. "Has there been any movement from his castle?"
"The Demon King's aura flared briefly a few days ago," a scout reported. "But it has since gone silent."
Galadriel sighed. "It seems we are at a crossroads. Regardless of the decision we make, this age is one of great uncertainty."
Before she could dismiss the meeting—
The air within the chamber suddenly twisted.
A wave of immense magical pressure surged through the hall, knocking the elders to the ground.
The space near the Queen's throne warped, and a dark vortex spiraled into existence.
Then, Ryuu stepped through.
His crimson Mangekyō Sharingan gleamed under the elven torchlight, his presence radiating overwhelming menace.
The room fell into absolute silence.
Galadriel instantly stood, eyes locked onto the intruder.
The council members scrambled to raise their staffs, preparing defensive spells.
Ryuu, however, merely smirked.
"My, my," he mused, letting his gaze wander to the elegantly dressed Queen of the Elves. "To think I'd have the honor of meeting the great Galadriel in person."
Galadriel's expression remained composed, but there was unmistakable wariness in her eyes.
"Who dares trespass upon sacred elven lands?" one of the sages demanded.
Ryuu's smirk widened.
"Since you asked so nicely, I'll introduce myself."
He took a step forward, the air around him distorting with power.
"I am Ryuu, the Demon King."
The sages' faces paled. Some flinched. Others gritted their teeth.
Galadriel remained calm, but her grip on her staff tightened.
"What is it that you seek, Demon King?" she asked.
"Isn't it obvious?" Ryuu said casually, tilting his head. "The Ring of the Sage."
Murmurs of outrage rippled through the elves.
"That artifact is sacred—"
Ryuu's Mangekyō Sharingan spun.
Before anyone could react, all the elders in the room froze in place.
Their eyes glazed over. Their bodies locked up.
Ryuu had cast Tsukuyomi.
The only one left unaffected was Galadriel.
"...What did you do to them?" she demanded.
Ryuu simply smiled.
"Oh, don't worry," he said. "They're just… taking a little nap."
Galadriel's eyes burned with defiance. "If you think I will surrender my people's relic so easily, you are mistaken."
Ryuu chuckled.
"Oh, I know you won't give it to me." His eyes gleamed with amusement. "Which is why I'm going to take it."
He leaned forward, voice dripping with menace.
"And if you refuse… your people will suffer the consequences."
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