My SSS-Rank Innate skill: Infinite Adaptation core

Rieka let out a soft sigh of relief and said, ”Well... it doesn’t matter. At least now we know he’s okay. He’ll come back to us soon.”

Asia nodded in quiet agreement.

....

Far away from the Frost mansion, where Asia and Rieka had finally found some relief after confirming Nova was alive, a very different atmosphere filled the royal castle in the central area of the capital.

Deep inside the castle, within a large hall that had been completely sealed from sunlight, a secret meeting was underway.

Five figures were present inside the dimly lit chamber. One of them sat comfortably on an ornate, high-backed chair.

He wore luxurious royal robes, and a crown rested atop his blonde hair. His face was average, with subtle signs of aging that gave him a mature and composed appearance.

This was Leonis Aurethion, the King of the Aureth Kingdom.

On the surface, he was known as a good ruler — calm, intelligent, and decisive. The majority of his citizens respected him.

Yet those who truly understood politics knew that King Leonis was also extremely cunning. Few people could ever guess what truly went on inside his mind.

Behind the polished image of a benevolent king, the kingdom still struggled with many hidden problems and dark dealings.While most of the population supported him, a quieter portion of the citizens held deep dissatisfaction toward the crown.

The other four figures were seated around the long table as well, though they were not physically present in the hall. Only their images appeared through a device known as mana projection, which functioned similarly to communication stones.

Two of them also wore crowns.

The first was Lucien Kalemoris, King of the Kalemor Kingdom. He had brown hair and slightly sharp features.

The second was Gareth Varkhess, King of the Varkhess Kingdom. He possessed black hair and rougher, more rugged features.

The remaining two figures were Albert, a General of the Twilight Order, and Alaric Light, the High Priest of the Light Temple Order.

All five of them had gathered for this secret meeting because of the recent battle that had taken place in the eastern region of the Aureth Kingdom.

The consequences of that battle were expected to affect not only Aureth, but the entire human continent.

”I still don’t understand how you could be so incompetent, Leonis,” Lucien said with clear displeasure. ”You let two Demon Generals escape from your kingdom even though you had the support of the entire army.”

Leonis’s expression remained calm. ”Didn’t you just hear what Albert explained? They were nearly captured.

The only reason they escaped was because of that boy who called himself the Slaughter Monarch. He helped free them from the light-infused daggers.”

”Hmph. Whatever the case may be, the Emperor will still come after you,” Gareth said coldly. ”It happened inside your kingdom, after all.”

These two fools don’t even understand what they’re talking about... Leonis thought with quiet irritation as he glanced at them.

”Please calm yourselves, Your Majesties,” Alaric said with a polite smile. ”Why don’t we first listen to what else Albert has to say?”

Although the three men were kings of the three great kingdoms of the human continent — and their kingdoms were even named after their respective royal lineages they were not as capable as their predecessors. Still, all three of them stood at the Emperor Realm.

The three kings turned their attention toward Albert.

”You may continue,” they said.

Albert nodded. ”As I already reported, I killed that half-demon in the end. However, before he died, he managed to free the Demon Generals.

The moment they were released, they immediately went searching for the Heart of Demon Lord Raze... which had disappeared along with the boy’s body.”

”Are you certain the boy was truly dead?” Alaric asked, his tone filled with curiosity.

Albert had already told him about Nova how dangerous he was even as a grandmaster,

Although he was the High Priest of the Light Temple Order and publicly known for his deep hatred of demons, he also possessed a darker side that very few people were aware of.

”Yes,” Albert replied firmly. ”I clearly heard his heart stop. There is no way he could have survived with that large hole in his body.”

Alaric frowned slightly as he pondered. ”Then why was the heart attracted to him in the first place? I understand that you said his demonic energy was unusually pure... but wasn’t he already dead at that point?”

”That remains a mystery,” Albert concluded.

Lucien then asked, ”Where is General Ron?” Ron was also the Genral of the Twilight Order’s forces on the human continent with Albert and others.

”He was slightly injured,” Albert answered. ”He is currently receiving treatment and resting.”

”Was it done by those demon bastards?” Gareth asked.

”Yes,” Albert replied with a polite smile. ”But it’s nothing he can’t handle. He will be fine.”

Even though all of them were Emperor Realm powerhouses, they still had to maintain proper respect according to their positions. Albert, despite his strength, still needed to show deference to the three kings.

”In any case, Your Majesties,” Alaric spoke up, his voice carrying a hint of anxiety, ”have any of you received word from the Human Emperor regarding the upcoming Empire’s Grand Youth Tournament? What are we supposed to do in this current situation?”

Gareth and Lucien both shook their heads, indicating they had received no such message. Leonis remained silent for a moment before speaking.

”Actually... I did receive a message just before this meeting started.”

”What? You’re lying!” Lucien snapped in annoyance. ”Why would the Emperor contact you and not me?!”

”Exactly,” Gareth added coldly. ”Why would the Emperor go out of his way to inform you instead of us? You’re nothing but an incompetent king.”

Leonis clenched his fist under the table and muttered inwardly, These fucking bastards...

Albert and Alaric could only sigh quietly as they watched the three great kings of the human continent bicker like fools. Still, neither of them dared to comment openly.

Leonis’s expression turned sharp. ”Are you both idiots? Why would I lie about a matter involving the Human Emperor himself? Do you think I have a death wish? There are two simple reasons he contacted me.

First, the tournament is being held in my kingdom. Second... both of you are fools.”

”You—!”

Lucien and Gareth trembled with rage. Their killing intent flared for a brief moment, strong enough that it could be felt even through the mana projections.

Seeing the situation about to spiral out of control, Alaric quickly stepped in.

”Your Majesties, please calm yourselves. These matters are of great importance. The Human Emperor would not be pleased if he learned of this... disagreement.”

The moment the Emperor’s name was mentioned again, both Gareth and Lucien forced themselves to fall silent, allowing Leonis to continue speaking.

Leonis first turned toward Albert and asked, ”What measures have you taken after the battle?”

Albert understood the intent behind the question and answered respectfully, ”We have already dispatched our forces across the kingdom and also alerted the other kingdoms to search for the escaped Demon Generals and any remaining members of the Blood Moon Cult.”

Leonis nodded and continued,

”The Emperor’s command is clear. Searching for the Demon Generals is to be treated as the second priority. If they have gone into deep hiding, it will be nearly impossible to find them.

For hundreds of years they managed to remain concealed within the human world, and not even the Emperor himself was able to root them out completely.”

He paused briefly before adding,

”Although Demon General Azren possesses a space-related affinity, he still does not have the ability to create portals and enter the Abyss.

At present, only three demons are known to possess that capability — two of them are Demon Lords, and the third is on the verge of reaching that level.”

”Therefore, the search for the Demon Generals will remain the second priority. They have already lost the heart, which was our greatest threat.”

Leonis’s expression grew more serious.

”The first priority is to strengthen security to the highest level for the Empire’s Grand Youth Tournament.”

”Leonis, are there any changes regarding the guests coming from the different continents?”

Gareth asked. He was especially concerned about one particularly important guest whose attendance had already been confirmed earlier, and he wanted to know if anything had changed.

Leonis glanced at him and replied, ”Yes... there are a few changes.”

**

Thanks for reading....