The Last King Of Darkness
Chapter 349: None

Chapter 349: None

Royal City.

Taboo Armament.

Under the massive True Silver Ring, a figure in a white robe came running frantically, shouting, "Leader! Something terrible has happened!"

On the silver altar, a figure wrapped in silver light spun around abruptly.

"What did you say?"

——

When Rod opened his eyes again, he was back in his room in the Underground City.

Recalling the last moment, he leaped out of bed, grabbed a long robe to cover his bare body, and rushed out the door.

In the hallway outside, warriors queuing up for Purification all turned their heads.

O’Hara exclaimed, "Commander, when did you return?"

Rod didn’t answer, his Spiritual Energy surged under his feet, and he leaped up the wall.

O’Hara yelled, "Commander, where are you going?"

Without a reply, Rod had vanished from sight.

The crowd exchanged puzzled looks. Anna hesitated and said, "Doesn’t he seem to be wearing nothing inside?"

Mina, who was analyzing a Relic brought back from Star Town, gave her a sideways glance and said, "Are you crazy with longing for a man? Want me to help you out?"

Anna’s face flushed red with anger and she retorted, "Come on, see if I’m afraid of you!"

"Heh, you said it."

"Come on!"

"Let’s go!"

"Come on!"

...

O’Hara shifted his gaze to Beowood, who merely shrugged, indicating he was helpless.

——

——

Without even taking a lantern, Rod plunged straight into the Black Fog.

At full blast, it was only a moment before he stepped into Star Town, returning to the exact spot he had exploded at.

All the monsters had disappeared, not even ashes left behind.

The buildings were unchanged; the square, the pool, fountains, street lamps from one thousand five hundred years ago—some were damaged, but they still stood.

Mephit, dressed in a white robe, was standing in the center, her figure in the ancient town and under the dim Black Fog, appearing like a ghost that didn’t belong.

Rod was taken aback and shouted, "Mephit!"

She didn’t move, but a light breeze ruffled her long robe, proving that she was a physical entity.

What... what was going on? The Void had devoured the monsters, why hadn’t it devoured her?

Rod, remembering the prophecy about her, called out again, "Mephit! Are you there?"

Mephit stirred, as though she had just snapped out of some trance.

"It’s you, Rod..."

Rod’s heart leapt with joy; she could still speak—not a monster—and he shouted, "Mephit, what happened to you? How... how are you still alive? Didn’t the Void devour you?"

Without turning around, Mephit’s voice was light, toneless, like ashes of burned-out emotions.

"That strange hollow Energy passed around me, all the monsters fell into it... but I didn’t, why, can’t I even die?"

Rod was startled and exclaimed, "Mephit! Why would you want to commit suicide? Isn’t living good? The world may be dark, but there are days like the Bright Festival! We wait in darkness for light, and eventually we see it—isn’t that good?"

Mephit lowered her head.

"No... I have no light."

"How can you not have it?"

Rod urgently shouted,

"Didn’t I promise you? As long as you’re with me, I’ll take care of you, you won’t be treated differently, no one can hurt you."

"Don’t look at me as nothing now, there’s nothing here now, but soon, Star Town will return to human territory, and when I light the fires of the town, countless residents will come over. This place will be a new human settlement, a paradise that rivals the Upper City of Royal City, a promised land filled with happiness, laughter, and no discrimination or hatred."

"And I will become the new pillar of Trolian. I’ve said it, I’ll help you shatter your chains, just trust me, okay?"

Mephit spoke softly, "It’s useless, it’s all lies, whenever someone sees my true face, admiration turns to hate, passion turns to fear, infatuation turns to disgust, reverence turns to disdain—there are no exceptions. In this world, I am nothing but a monster..."

Rod shouted, "No, you’re not! I am the exception! My admiration is admiration, passion is passion, infatuation is infatuation, reverence is reverence, and it won’t change because of your appearance. Come back, we are the best partners, I’ve already thought of an excellent battle plan..."

Mephit’s voice carried a slight note of mockery.

"...Is that so?"

With a hissing sound, rotten black matter pierced through her robes from her back, extending like branches to form a pair of withering wings.

Thick, gray-white substance like brain matter seeped from the dry branches, dripping down.

A chill emanated from her, solidifying the liquid into an even more repulsive gray-white substance.

Rod couldn’t help but step back, but his reason immediately froze his feet to the ground, and he spoke softly.

"Is your curse out of control? Don’t worry, it’s okay, I..."

Mephit turned around, and a visage far uglier than that of the Medicine Woman came into view. Deep wrinkles covered in pustules and rot, festering flesh and bloodstains riddled her cheeks, the lower jaw was corroded through, revealing a blackened tongue dangling in front of her neck—she no longer resembled a human, but rather a female demon.

"Look."

Mephit pulled the corners of her mouth into an ugly yet sincere smile that seemed to break free from all restraints.

"This is how I look now, the appearance after all the curses have spiraled out of control..."

Rod fought back feelings of fear and disgust and shouted, "I will lift them!"

For some reason, Mephit’s smile became joyful, as if she was freed from all her bonds.

"I’m sorry, that beautiful me was also a curse. You saved me but you won’t get a beauty."

"I’m sorry to disappoint you..."

Without a second thought, Rod immediately shouted, "No, no matter whether you are beautiful or ugly, no matter what you become, my promise will never..."

Mephit cut him off.

"Kiss me."

She opened her hands, her silver eyes slightly curved, gleaming with the cunning of a successful scheme, yet deep in her gaze lay a profound sadness.

Pus and blood dripped from her face, her blackened tongue trembled in the air, and her decaying lips were enough to make one vomit.

But Rod didn’t hesitate for a moment. He leaped forward, took her into his arms, and kissed her on the lips before she could react.

Humanity plummeted at that moment. Rod had saved nearly eight hundred thousand in total humanity, but it dropped by over one hundred thousand in the blink of an eye.

The body in his arms moved, trying to break free, but Rod tightened his grip, holding her firmly.

Their deep kiss was almost suffocating.

The body in his arms softened from its initial stiffness, and a glaring white light rose from her, enveloping them in flickering haze as the Black Fog unknowingly receded thousands of yards, revealing the wide-open sky and the full view of the town.

Before he knew it, Mephit’s hands also encircled Rod’s back. Her lips were warm and moist, her tender tongue intertwining and lapping as the curse dissipated, and she became human.

But she was not the stunning Mephit from before; she was now an ordinary girl, her skin not so smooth, her complexion not so pale, her eyes a grayish brown, her silver hair turned black, freckles on her cheeks, and a common appearance with only a hint of girlish delicacy, like a commoner’s daughter.

She no longer possessed the divine beauty of a goddess, but Rod didn’t care; even his hands moved uncontrollably downward.

But this time, Mephit didn’t stop him, instead rising on her toes, pressing closer to him.

Rod felt the curves and warmth of her body but didn’t go any further; instead, he let go of her.

Long silver strands dangled from their lips. Mephit’s face was flushed, her eyes seemingly rippling with water, just gazing at Rod.

The next moment, with a cold snort, dozens of people clad in white robes with silver circles on their chests descended from the sky and surrounded them, long silver tridents pointed at them.

"Mephit!"

The leading cyclops spoke coldly and cautiously.

"Who allowed you to unseal the curse on your own?"

Mephit did not answer, nor did she pay any attention, as if she hadn’t heard, just staring at Rod.

The cyclops barked, "Answer my question! Otherwise, I’ll have to take forceful measures!"

The white-robed figures moved forward, the white light swirling on their silver tridents, powerful waves of Spiritual Energy emanating from them.

Rod turned around and smiled. "Don’t be agitated, it was me who did it."

The cyclops’s tone softened as he bowed slightly to Rod.

"Your Excellency the King’s Hand, Mephit is a high-level Taboo user, and matters concerning her are of the highest level of alert in the Royal City. Although her usage rights are with you, her jurisdiction still lies with the Silver Oath."

Rod smiled. "As you’ve said, how I use her is none of your business, right?"

The cyclops’s expression darkened, but his tone remained respectful.

"Lord Rod, the Silver Oath is directly overseen by the Defense Chief Darin and Archbishop Horus. Your authority does not supersede theirs. Please let her go. We must take her back to the Silver Oath, where she must pay a heavy price for her actions."

Rod said coldly, "I disagree."

The cyclops stepped forward.

"Then I’m sorry, Lord Rod."

Rod frowned. "Cyclops, are your eyes not working? Don’t you know that Darin and Horus are my patrons? Didn’t you see that this town has been cleared when you came? The expedition has been a huge success, and I will soon become a new noble of the Royal City, bound to reach the highest echelons of Trolian. Think about the consequences of offending me."

The cyclops was silent for several seconds, but he was not deterred by Rod’s threats.

"My apologies, Lord Rod, duty calls."

He stepped forward with his trident in hand.

Rod sneered, "I’d like to see how you’ll take her away." He turned to stand in front of Mephit, confronting the cyclops head-on.

The two stood in a stand-off, and at that moment, Mephit walked out from behind him, whispering, "Kaka, take me away."

The cyclops waved his hand. "Take her!"

Rod said anxiously, "Mephit, you..."

Mephit turned around and smiled. "Don’t worry, I’m just going back to reconfigure the curses. Once they are properly sealed, I’ll come back."

With several clicks, numerous silver tridents were positioned at her neck, hands, and feet.

Rod shouted angrily, "Let go, Cyclops, you make sure you treat her well. No punishments or abuse or you won’t get away with it! I mean it!"

The cyclops let out a long breath, bowing. "As you wish, Lord Rod."

He gestured, "Release her!"

The tridents lowered, and the cyclops said respectfully, "Lord Rod, please be assured, we will not harm her maliciously."

Rod sighed inwardly and stepped aside.

"Go ahead."

The cyclops immediately waved his hand, "Let’s go."

The group flew up with Mephit, swiftly vanishing from sight.