The questions he came to ask King Uuthli'vlos were addressed to Vhol'drokk, not whoever this younger king was. But that was beside the point, now.
His anger was still roiling under the surface, because he had a feeling this new king was just like the old one, if not worse. But he didn't want to take risks.
The court mage was an unknown factor. This new king was another.
And wherever was fogging the old king's mind was a third one.
With all these questions and no answers, Astaroth didn't feel like he should poke the bear. Maybe if he still had access to Royal Protection, he would try prying answers out of them.
But right now, he was still at risk of getting overpowered by the wild card that was the court mage.
Astaroth wondered what question he should ask, to not seem suspicious for coming to demand answers and just suddenly leaving.
"Speak up, distant King. I don't have all day to indulge you," the young king growled, his tone full of impatience.
"Ahh, yes. I wanted to know why your forests and countryside are infested with corrupted beasts, and I have crossed no patrol or military action to protect your citizens. Is it not your duty as king to protect your citizens?"
"Tch! Another meddler."
'Another?' Astaroth thought.
He wondered for a second who the first one might have been.
"Why would I have to waste my precious military power, that I need to conquer the other kingdoms around mine, just to protect peasants and farmers? Only a weak king cares for the rabble in his kingdom."
Astaroth gritted his teeth at the answer.
'What a dirtbag. He's worse than his father before him. Why is Lady Anulo not intervening?'
"Does the kingdom spirit agree with your sentiment, new King?" Astaroth asked, his body trembling slightly in rage.
"I don't see how that is any of your business, foreigner. We may share race, but you are no longer a citizen of this proud nation."
"Hah! Proud nation. What a joke."
Astaroth clamped his mouth shut after his outburst. He just couldn't contain it anymore.
This shitbag was not fit to be king. What could have happened to the young prince he remembered?
If King Vhol'drokk stepped down, he should have become king in his stead. Yet this asshat was there instead.
"What did you say?! Are you mocking my kingdom?!"
"I've had enough. I'm leaving."
Astaroth spun around to walk out the doors, but ended up face-to-face with the court mage again. Only this time, he could see his eyes under the cloak.
And what was looking at him was not from this world.
Two Black orbs, with ember-like irises, like the eyes were a deep shaft to an active volcano. Astaroth could feel his brain go foggy just by staring into those eyes, and he immediately closed his eyes.
'That's a demon! That's why he felt familiar!'
Astaroth slashed forward with Ad Astra, which he had just pulled out again, but was met with nothing. Since his target was no longer in front of him, he re-opened his eyes and dashed forward.
Blasting through the throne room doors, he heard a shrill scream from behind him.
"Guards! Stop him! I want his head!"
The two guards outside the door immediately tried to block his path.
But just as he was about to swat them aside, the hair on his neck stood up, and his instinct told him to move aside.
Stepping to the side swiftly, Astaroth looked on in horror as a gout of black fire engulfed the corridor, coming out of the throne room. The two guards that had been standing there to block his path were turned to cinder instantly.
'I need to buck out. Asmodeus! You're up!" he shouted in his head, reaching out to the demon.
Feeling his body changing slightly, and the horns sprouting from his head, Astaroth heard the demon in his mind.
'What can I do for you, Master Astaroth?'
"Get me out of here!" Astaroth shouted, not even in his mind.
The gout of flames had ended, and the stone wall of the hallway was halfway melted through. Astaroth did not want to test out how strong this new court mage was.
Turning around to escape the palace, there was the mage again, his hood off this time. The horrendous face the mage had was pale compared to his magic aura.
The mana halo around the mage was engulfing the halfway entirely, and he could guess it was also reaching much past it, given he was already feeling heavier from its pressure.
Astaroth reflexively scanned the court mage, wondering what he was up against.
*Ogranak, The Infiltrator*
Level: 75
Grade: Rare (Boss)
HP: 68,206,000
MP: 864,450
Astaroth's jaw almost dropped, and his moment of stupor also almost cost him dearly. The court mage was already charging up another gout of black flames in his hand.
Snapping out of his stupor, just as the fire began releasing, Astaroth activated Thousand Thoughts. With his time perception slowing down, he hurriedly used his spatial awareness and locked on a spot over the castle, teleporting promptly.
Once he was outside, and Thousand Thoughts ended, a large blast echoed under him. The blast of flames blasted through the walls of the palace, blasting off into the distance, scorching everything on its path.
'There is no way I can beat that right now, or on my own, at all. We're leaving.'
Focusing his mind on the underground cave, where the survivors of his starting village were, Astaroth used the teleportation skill again. He felt his mana reserves dip drastically, but it was much less than last time.
What Astaroth did not take into consideration was which part of the cave he focused on. Appearing back into the cave, Astaroth looked around him, only to notice he was looking at roots.
He suddenly felt his body fall and realized what he had done.
Try as he may, he couldn't lock down on the ground's position before actually reaching it.
*Crash!*
Astaroth lay there, cratered into the hard soil and stone floor, his head ringing and his lungs desperately trying to regain the air they had just expelled.
When he finally gasped a breath of air, only one word escaped his mouth amidst the panting.
"Owwwww."
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