Chapter 524: Deadly Encounter

Sol stood upon the clouds, his dark cloak flickering violently beneath the powerful winds sweeping across the heavens as his burning gaze remained fixed upon the mountain Damian and Duke Dantalion had disappeared into.

From the outside, the mountain looked completely normal, its rocky slopes untouched and its peak partially hidden beneath the surrounding clouds, but Sol could clearly perceive the thin transparent dome covering the entire mountain. His eyes narrowed as he studied the strange barrier.

"A Territory..." Sol frowned.

"Not completely... It’s a False Territory." Leo, sitting comfortably upon his shoulder, watched the barrier with a serious frown.

"If this were a complete Territory, it would blend with the real world and everyone within its range would be caught under its effects. Rather than a Territory, this is a Domain that has transcended the powers of a Domain and is inching towards becoming a Territory." Sol’s expression became increasingly grim as he continued staring at the mountain.

"That rascal is very close to becoming a God..." His fists clenched involuntarily, and the twin suns illuminating Velmora suddenly shone several times brighter as his emotions began affecting the world around him.

"Relax yourself or have you forgotten we are not allowed to get involved in this matter?" Leo scolded, shielding his tiny eyes from the sudden increase in brightness.

Despite refusing to let Sol interfere, Leo understood perfectly why Sol was concerned. Duke Dantalion’s inheritance was an anomaly, an existence so powerful that even other demons feared what would happen if he reached the God realm.

For thousands of years, demons had deliberately kept Dantalion away from the center of power, choosing Astaroth as their council leader because of his ability to maintain a deep relationship with the Crimson Palace and the Prince who ruled it.

Dantalion’s abnormal inheritance was believed to be only slightly inferior to those possessed by the Seven Deadly Sins, and if he successfully reached Godhood, he would become a threat to every existing power in the Underworld, including Sol himself.

"If he kills the fox and steals his inheritance, I’ll strike him down as soon as he appears." Sol decided without hesitation.

"You will do no such thing!"

Buzz!

Sol slowly looked over his shoulder, his eyes narrowing when he saw Duke Astaroth standing upon a distant cloud with Kaja and Cain looming behind him. The dragon’s expression was calm, but his arrival had clearly not been accidental.

"Whenever I show myself beyond Aurelios, you are always there, old dragon. Don’t tell me you secretly have a thing for men?" Sol chuckled, his voice filled with mockery.

Astaroth rolled his eyes. "If I ever develop a thing for men, I’ll definitely go for men with softer facial features like the Prince of Velmora. Don’t think too highly of yourself."

Kaja and Cain immediately felt their breath hitch as their bodies shuddered. They exchanged terrified glances, both wondering why their Lord had decided to insult someone as dangerous as Sol.

Was he actually trying to get all of them killed?

Instead, Sol burst into laughter.

Hahahahahah! Hahahahaha!

The sound stunned Kaja and Cain, but their surprise increased when Astaroth joined him. The two ancient demons laughed together for several seconds as though they were old friends rather than two individuals responsible for maintaining opposing powers.

Eventually their laughter faded, leaving behind a strange silence as they returned their attention toward the mountain.

"You will forever remain the greatest threat to all demons, and as the leader of the Council of Elders, it is my duty to keep my eyes on you at all times. I can’t stand by and watch you gain a second inheritance under the noses of the other Princes. If such a mistake should happen, a great calamity will befall all demons." Astaroth broke the silence.

Sol casually nodded as he glanced toward the False Territory. It made sense that Astaroth would follow him here if he believed Sol intended to steal Damian’s inheritance.

Damian was still a demigod, after all, and if Sol obtained another Sin inheritance while Damian was killed, the balance between the Princes would be shattered completely.

"Even if I choose to take the young Prince’s life, do you really think you and your band of lizard demigods can stop me?" Sol asked.

Buzz!

The intensity of the twin suns doubled almost instantly.

Kaja and Cain immediately raised their hands to shield their faces as the heat became unbearable, their expressions tightening while the clouds beneath them began evaporating.

Astaroth, however, remained completely unfazed by the increased intensity. He calmly reached inside his robes and pulled out a strange horn shaped like a dragon’s head, holding it up where Sol could clearly see it.

"Do I need to defeat you?" Astaroth chuckled mockingly. "All I need to do is blow on this and the remaining five Princes alongside all demons of the Underworld will come rushing to Velmora to take your head. It will be a costly battle but you will be overwhelmed!"

Sol stared at the horn for several seconds. The fire burning within his eyes gradually diminished, and the scorching intensity of the twin suns began to weaken until the atmosphere returned to normal.

"I hate this guy." Sol muttered under his breath.

Leo turned toward Astaroth, a mischievous grin appearing across the tiny lion cub’s face despite its otherwise adorable appearance.

"Shouldn’t you be more worried about what happens if Duke Dantalion gets his hands on the Lust inheritance? We both know he can pardon the rest of the council, but his resentment for you will only end with your public execution. It is in your best interest to let Sol kill him and put an end to the guillotine always hanging over your head."

Astaroth’s expression hardened as he stared at Leo. That little lion had been the greatest obstacle preventing countless schemes against Sol from succeeding.

Numerous plots had been devised against the Prince of Pride, yet almost none had managed to pass beneath Leo’s watchful eyes. Astaroth understood better than most how dangerous that tiny creature could be.

"If Duke Dantalion comes out of there, the victor will be a Prince far stronger than anything we have ever seen. One who can challenge you and possibly protect all demons from your evil scheme... As the leader of the Council of Elders, it is my duty to protect all demons." Astaroth said with a smile before shifting his gaze toward the False Territory. "Even if it costs me my life."

Leo’s eyes tightened slightly at the answer, while Sol remained silent. He stared at the transparent barrier for several more seconds, his expression unreadable as he considered the situation. Eventually, he turned away.

"Let’s go... With Astaroth here we will never be able to achieve our goal." Sol frowned.

Without hesitation, his body transformed into a beam of golden light and shot into the distance, disappearing from sight almost instantly. The moment his presence vanished, Astaroth released a long breath and his body suddenly staggered backward.

Huff!

Kaja and Cain immediately caught him from behind.

"My Lord!" they both yelled as they struggled to support his weight.

Astaroth regained his footing, beads of sweat running down his face as he stared toward the direction Sol had disappeared. The confident expression he had displayed moments earlier was gone.

"Every encounter, I can feel his patience growing thinner. I fear a day may come..." Astaroth muttered, genuine worry audible in his voice.

"Then that is the day he will die!" Kaja hissed viciously.

Pa!

Astaroth’s backhand struck Kaja across the face, sending the demon staggering sideways. Astaroth stared directly into his eyes, anger burning within his expression.

"At what cost?!" he yelled.

Kaja and Cain immediately shrank back, terror spreading across their faces.

"If seventy percent of the Underworld’s fighting force is lost to that man, what stops the Heavens from descending on us and wiping out what remains of the demon race?!" Astaroth yelled coldly.

Neither Kaja nor Cain answered. They remained where they stood with their heads lowered, finally understanding the weight behind their Lord’s words.

Killing Sol was not as simple as overpowering one enemy. Even if the Underworld somehow managed to destroy him, the resulting casualties could leave them vulnerable to Heaven’s intervention.

Astaroth eventually shifted his gaze back toward the False Territory, deep concern etched across his face. He stared at the transparent barrier for a long moment, wondering what was happening inside and whether the young Prince he had placed so much hope in could actually overcome the ancient monster trapped with him.

"Now more than ever, I need you to prove to me I can put my faith in you, young fox." He mumbled under his breath.