Chapter 138: Chapter 138: The Shadow Of Nightmare
Two days later, the construction of the Imperial Palace was complete.
With it, a two-layer shield was established around it.
One layer was mainly for defense, specially designed to protect the Imperial City and the Palace.
The other was a planetary perception shield, designed to detect any object entering Zenith.
This two-layer defense was extremely important for the Zenith Empire. They would now know beforehand if any enemy fleet was approaching to attack.
On this occasion, a small banquet was held inside the Palace.
The three commanders and a few noteworthy Knights were invited.
The seven giant dwarven builders, who were the main men behind this monumental architecture, were also invited.
And, of course, Zestia, Noir, and Leon were there too.
As the banquet started, they all began drinking aged wines imported from distant planets.
The seven giant dwarves eclipsed everyone in terms of size and bladder capacity.
They drank like there was no tomorrow.
Neo was sitting just beside them, smiling faintly.
"So, Ragnar, why don’t you stay and help me build my empire?! he suddenly asked Ragnar, who was the leader of the giant dwarves.
Hearing him, Ragnar paused.
He stared into the amber liquid for a long moment, eyes becoming cloudy because of the past sorrows.
If this question had been asked just a week ago, he would have bluntly stated that they were leaving. They were mere contractors, wanderers barely surviving the limitless conflicts of the cosmos.
But now, after witnessing this young Emperor shatter a Titan class fleet and awaken an army of Beyonders with ease, something deep within the giant dwarf’s hardened heart had moved.
For the first time in centuries, they felt a sense of ambition.
He looked down, meeting Neo’s dark eyes.
"Your Majesty, you look at us and see master builders. But you might not know that my six brothers and I are the absolute last of a forgotten lineage. We are the final surviving Star-Forgers."
The table around them grew quiet as the other dwarves lowered their heads, as if reminiscing an old memory.
Ragnar continued,
"Our home world, Dwarvania, was a marvel of ancient crafts. It wasn’t just a planet of dirt and stone. It was a world-sized forge where the mountains breathed fire, and the rivers ran with star-iron. We were a peaceful race of craftsmen. We built wonders that defied laws and ruled."
All of a sudden, Ragnar’s massive fists clenched tightly.
"Then, he arrived. Emperor Damiano...
Do not let the title fool you, Your Majesty. Damiano is a vile, insidious cosmic monster hiding behind the innocent face of a ten-year-old child. He is a parasite whose soul is far too massive for his physical vessel, constantly rotting his own body from the inside out."
Neo listened quietly, though a spark of interest born in his void-like eyes.
"Damiano descended upon Dwarvania with a impossible demand. He ordered our High Grandmasters to forge an Infinite Energy Generator, a mechanical heart capable of permanently sustaining his decaying, incomplete body."
Ragnar looked down at his own massive, calloused hands.
"But even with our supreme craftsmanship, we are bound by the fundamental laws of magic and rules of cosmos. Creating infinite energy from nothing is the domain of true Gods, not mortals. We failed him.
For this, he didn’t just execute our leaders for our failure, shattered our entire world. He cracked Dwarvania’s planetary core and forced us to watch as billions of our kin frozen in the cold vacuum of space."
Ragnar slowly stood up, his aura turning violent.
"For centuries, my brothers and I have been running. We have built palaces for arrogant Dominators and evil warlocks just to buy another year of survival, always looking over our shoulders. But when I watched you stand in the sky and shatter those warships... when I saw you offer a home and purpose to the discarded..."
THUD.
The giant dwarf suddenly dropped to one knee. The heavy thud shook the pristine marble floor of the very palace he had just built.
Immediately afterward, his six massive brothers pushed back their chairs and dropped to their knees as well.
"We are tired of running, Emperor Neo. If you will have us, the last Star-Forgers of Dwarvania will not just build your palaces. We will forge your warships, fortify your cities, and construct an empire made of iron and blood that no monster in this universe will ever be able to shatter.
"We only ask for one promise in return: that one day, you will help us get our revenge. The grieving souls of our ancestors are waiting for the day that monster breathes his last breath."
"A monster, huh?" Neo repeated, his faint smile slowly twisting into a devilish smirk. "Heh. Can he truly be more monstrous than me?"
With an absolutely domineering air, he extended his right hand forward.
"I vow this to you: there will come a day when you watch this monster disappear from the face of the universe."
Hearing that, the giant dwarves were happy.
They tok extended their massive hands, ans vowed:
"Then we also vow our absolute loyalty to the Zenith Empire and Emperor Neo, until our very last breath!!"
The rest of the night passed in a joyous celebratory atmosphere.
Hours later, slightly buzzed from the potent, otherworldly alcohol, Neo finally made his way back to the grand Imperial Bedchamber.
Just as he slumped face-down onto the sprawling mattress, his newly forged Type 5 senses picked up a sudden presence.
For a moment, he thought Noir was sneaking in to test his patience again. But instantly, a chilling killing intent washed over him, and the hairs on the back of his neck stood an end.
It wasn’t her.
CLANG!
Neo rolled over with blinding speed, his eyes snapping wide open.
Hovering directly over him, an abyssal dark energy blade was violently grinding to a halt just mere centimeters away from slicing his throat open.
It was completely frozen in mid-air, violently clashing against the invisible passive barrier of his Infinite Void-Shield Body.
Neo’s gaze tracked up from the slender, pale hand gripping the vibrating dagger to the assassin’s face.
To his slight surprise, it was a young woman with glowing purple eyes and a dark mask.
And right now, she stood utterly paralyzed by shock.
"Oh my, what’s this?! How are you stopping my Arcane Blade?!"
