Rise of the Lustful Evil Monarch (Re)

Ethan's POV

I hadn't dared to hope otherwise as the abysmal distances of light years between stars made interstellar travel between different worlds seem impossible. Even if I could achieve that speed there was no guarantee that I would find a habitable planet and a magical one to boot.

Even in my previous life, with advanced technology, we had neither confirmed alien life nor achieved meaningful space exploration.

But this saber was concrete proof. Grade 8 beings existed and one of their relics had somehow found its way to this world. This meant there was a thread of hope, a connection to the wider universe.

I calmed myself and contemplated obtaining the broken saber. It was tied to my lineage and even a minuscule increase in my chances of divine ascension was worth pursuing as advised by the Eterna Nexus.

"The base price for this broken sword is 1,000 lifeblood crystals. Despite its lack of magical ability or affinity, it is still grade-5 material. Those who wish to bid must increase the bid by increments of 500."

'1,200.'

'1,500.'

'1,600.'

'I need your help, Lady Virelle, to obtain this weapon fragment. I will owe you a favor and repay it to the best of my ability,' I sound-transmitted my request to Virelle.

After a few moments of silence, she bid a substantial amount silencing most of the room.

"5,000," she declared with an unwavering tone.

Many hesitated, but her determination left little room for competition. Even Victor gave her a long perplexed look, likely wondering why she was willing to pay such a price for a seemingly useless fragment.

Soon, the auction ended and we left the Crimson Cellar through a secret door instead of the Euphoria Lounge, a decision likely made to avoid drawing attention. We now had a slave moon elf girl with us and walking through public areas with her in broad daylight would have been too conspicuous.

The elf girl kept her head bowed the entire time. Her stiff posture spoke of fear and uncertainty.

I observed everyone's expressions, curious about the mindset of young people in this world.

Virelle maintained her usual stoic demeanour, except when she conversed with Victor. Lucien forced a smile but envy was evident in his eyes as he glanced at the elf girl's black slave collar. I wondered about his plans for her if he had won her today in the auction.

Victor, however, seemed delighted with his acquisition and didn't bother to hide his satisfaction.

We exited through a backdoor into a dark alley. The ambient lights of the entertainment district glimmered faintly in the distance but the area around us was desolate and silent.

"Virelle, are you and Eryndor returning to the Scarlet Hollow Castle now?" Victor asked.

Virelle nodded in response while I stayed silent at the side.

"How about I accompany you to the castle? I wish to meet Lord Altheria as well," Victor said, then turned to Lucien.

"Brother Lucien, why don't you head to the Scarlet Nexus Portal and return to your home? I will leave by tomorrow and will be unable to accompany you now."

Lucien nodded, albeit reluctantly. Flashing what he likely thought was a charming smile, he turned to Virelle.

"Lady Virelle, it was a pleasure meeting you today. Let us catch up again at the Abyssal Sanctum in four months."

With that, he pompously ignored the rest of us and vanished into the side wall which I recognized as a gateway to the Shadowed Paths. I shook my head at such idiotic and immature behaviour while comparing Victor and Lucien in my mind.

Both of them were princes but Victor was more patient, mature and the one who kept his true thoughts and feelings to himself leaving everyone guessing whereas Lucien was opposite of him. Even I was wary of Victor but Lucien never seemed to be a serious opponent in my eyes.

Without any extra words, we together phased through the alleyway walls and entered the Shadowed paths. Victor led the way with the elf girl in his hand while I and Virelle trailed one step behind.

Like before, we changed directions numerous times while the scenery looked like a shadowy corridor with rolling dark waves. I suddenly felt a node in the wave where the dark waves seemed coagulated, I poured dark magic energy into my eyes and I was able to make out a slimy tentacle-like outline.

It looked like an octopus tentacle but as if sensing my gaze, it stopped swimming in the dark expanse and its one end swivelled towards our direction. Suddenly, I spotted two silvery white spots that looked like eyes on the tentacle turned towards us.

My mind churned and I concluded that what I had been thinking as an octopus tentacle was in actuality a snake and its head had just turned towards us. It looked at me for a few seconds and vanished back into the void ahead after which I wasn't able to sense it.

This raised many questions inside my mind as I was still wondering why this shadowed path looked like a world on its own with its beings and not like an exclusive pathway of an underground city.

After wondering for about ten minutes we finally exited in front of the bug city gates. I got out of my stupor while Virelle looked at me in wonder and asked me a question with a sound transmission,

'How were you able to keep up with us while you weren't even paying attention to the route but lost in your thoughts?'

'I have darkness element as my main affinity so I was able to instinctively follow your directions and not get lost.', I replied in a smiling tone but she shook her head and countered,

'If that was possible, all the dark element experts would have been able to easily navigate the shadowed paths and even would have found out its mysteries and more innovative ways to use it.'