Chapter 108: Chapter 108: The Lord
The investigation began. The Administrator asked many questions of the faction leaders regarding their armies while also reviewing the live footage of the incidents. The recordings started with the disappearance of the dwarven commander while he was fighting the Zenith Empire, moving on to the sudden ambush on the Inquisitor at the marshlands, and finally showing the Golden Paladins disappearing one after another.
Everything was recorded under a highly advanced surveillance system.
The incidents played out exactly as they had happened.
Demon Zephys’s monstrous form was seen striking the Inquisitor, and then it disappeared along with the unconscious body.
The massive holographic screens turned off, leaving the grand banquet hall in a suffocating silence.
But not for long.
King Vane was the first to roar,
"What in the cosmos was that?That monstrosity completely bypassed a Type 6 holy barrier with a single physical strike!"
Lord Garrick seemed serious as he said, "It moved like a phantom. A phantom with the raw strength of a Titan."
The Kraken narrowed his oceanic eyes, "A demon indeed. A true, ancient demon. But how did such a foul creature bypass the Gourd’s entrance restrictions?"
The Administrator raised his hand, instantly silencing the uproar.
He then gestured toward the Solar Saint.
"Saint of the Sun, your forces were the primary victims of this anomaly. Bring forth your surviving witnesses."
The Solar Saint suppressed his fury and nodded.
Soon, several fearful Golden Paladins were ushered onto the central floor.
Before the imposing gaze of the eighty Faction Leaders, they trembled.
"Speak! Tell the Administrator exactly what you saw," Solar Saint commanded like a decree.
The lead Paladin fell to one knee, saying shakily: "It was a nightmare, Your Holiness. The demonic creature called himself Zephys. He radiated an oppressive, suffocating darkness that devoured our holy light. He is vile and played plain dirty with the Inquisitor. He crushed his strong auric armor with an ambush, then vanished with his body at a blinding speed. Demon Zephys is the culprit. We swear it on our very souls."
The Administrator crossed his arms, while his eyes scanned every reaction present.
"The visual evidence and the testimonies align perfectly. The perpetrator is this Demon Zephys. However, there is a glaring issue."
He said as he tapped a floating crystal orb, projecting a flashing red error screen into the air.
"There is no registered participant by the name of Zephys. There is no faction claiming him. There is no soul signature matching his demonic frequency in our vast runebase. It is as if he materialized out of thin air just to slaughter your men."
Naturally, everyone was confused and scared.
Who was this Demon Zephys? Where did he come from? Which rival faction was hiding him as a secret weapon?
Every leader began casting suspicious glances at their neighbors.
Neo was under suspicion like others as well.
Despite that he took another slow, elegant sip of his cosmic wine, his expression perfectly composed.
Beside him, Elena perfectly kept her anxiety hidden by her mechanical face.
It was the perfect crime.
Neo had used his Primordial Demon Physique to completely mask his true identity.
As such, to the highly advanced surveillance systems and the mighty Faction Leaders, Demon Zephys was a terrifying anomaly.
Absolutely no one could connect that monstrous dark entity to the calm and holy aura-wielding human known as Neo Godson.
"Announcing the arrival of The Lord."
Following the sudden shout, the towering doors of the banquet hall opened once more.
A new figure walked in.
He radiated an aura so profound that the very laws of space seemed to bend around him.
It was the Lord of the Heavenly Gourd.
He wore simple, flowing robes and bore a kind disarming smile.
The Lord spoke gently like a calm cosmic breeze:
"My deepest apologies, esteemed guests. The trial was meant to be a place of fair competition, not senseless slaughter. We will handle the matter of this Demon Zephys internally. You are all free to return to your territories. Please, accept my humblest apologies for this grave inconvenience."
The top faction leaders, despite their previous arrogance and fury, immediately bowed their heads.
Even King Vane, the Kraken, and the Solar Saint had to be perfectly courteous in the presence of the Lord.
After all, the power he wielded was simply on a completely different dimension.
Neo also stood up gracefully and offered a polite bow of his own.
However, as he turned to leave alongside Elena, a sudden chill ran down his spine. He felt an intense gaze on his back.
Still, he did not turn around. He simply kept his pace, guiding Elena out of the grand hall.
Once the grand banquet hall was entirely empty of the faction leaders, the kind smile on the Lord’s face slowly vanished.
He turned his deep eyes toward the plain-suited Administrator.
"That young human... Is he that Neo Godson?"
"Yes, My Lord. The anomaly in the matrix began shortly after his Zenith Empire started its rapid ascent. His aura is perfectly holy, but his destiny is shrouded in an impenetrable fog."
"Hmm... A domainless Dominator is a nothing to be overly suspicious of. But still, keep a very close eye on him. If he shows any sign of demonic behavior, we will inform the Saint Lands to purge him."
Outside the grand venue, the celestial carriages were waiting to take the leaders back to their respective ships.
However, as Neo and Elena walked toward their transport, a blinding golden light blocked their path.
The Solar Saint stood before them. His eyes were cold and condescending.
"Do not think your little display inside changes anything, human. You may have blinded the others with your pure light, but I know a usurper when I see one. If our paths ever cross again outside the safety of this administration, I will personally seize everything you have built."
The Solar Saint leaned close Neo’s face, his golden eyes narrowing into predatory slits.
"The Game of Dominators is not for kids, Neo Godson. Pray you do not become a collateral damage."
