Chapter 186 Mind of the War (1/2)
CHAPTER 186
MIND OF THE WAR
”...” Lino opened his eyes with great difficulty, his expression terrible.
For the past three hours, the talisman in his void world was trembling non-stop. Despite him ignoring it, it never stopped. Over and over. And over. Like a beat of the drum it bellowed into his mind. Even if he was a hundred time as sleepy, he'd still remain wide awake as he was now.
His mood soured, he sat up onto the bed and lit up the beside candle, cursing what ought to never be cursed as he took out the talisman from the void world. His brows furrowed as he recognized it was actually the Emperor's. Quickly donning the mask he lit it up whereupon a projection screen suddenly filled half a room, behind which a familiar face stared at him.
”... what?” Lino asked in a grumpy tone.
”Apologies for disturbing you this late,” the Emperor said, bowing his head slightly. ”But it is an emergency.”
”What is?” Lino asked.
”The Hell's Army had made its first move,” the Emperor said. ”An entire Legion, to be precise, has been spotted on the Southern Shore moving inland. I have dispatched Jean and the Holy Titans Legion to intercept them. They should meet within one of the Southern Seafaring Valleys.”
”... alright. Summon me.” Lino grumbled lowly, yawning and unleashing a smidgen of Qi. Barely a blink later a vortex appeared next to his bed, through which he casually walked.
He was met by quite a large audience this time around too, at the very least ten times as large as the previous one. While most stood at the side of the centerpiece of the room -- a massive, round table made out of old-looking stone -- six figures in total sat around the table itself, with the Emperor sitting at the most lavish-looking chair. Lino glanced around the masses for a moment and inspected their overall strength before walking over to the table and sitting down on one of the chairs.
Considering the sudden murderous gazes that landed on his body, he realized that the Emperor hadn't told them anything. His lips curled up into a faint smirk as he glanced at the Emperor. Testing me, huh? Can't even drop these childish games as the war is breaking out... sheesh...
”Anyone who hasn't reached the Realms of Godhood,” Lino spoke in a mellow and casual voice, ignoring the freezing atmosphere. ”Get out.”
”...”
”...” a rather long moment of silence unfolded as the people present seemed incapable of processing what Lino just said. Even after nearly a minute, nobody as much as took a breath, let alone anything more.
”Was I unclear?” Lino said, lifting his gaze off the table and looking at the mass of people standing around him. ”Or do I need to personally throw you out?”
”WHO THE HELL DO YOU THI---” a whizzing sound stirred the winds as a youthful-looking man found himself bleeding through the clear air and crashing into the wall behind, causing a massive explosion to bellow. The man felt a sudden urge within his throat and within a single cough he felt as though he'd bled out half the blood in his body. It was only then that his mind managed to catch up with the pain he received, causing him to scream out in agony.
Lino, on the other hand, stood where the young man used to stand, his right leg lifted up, soles of his shoes seemingly spitting out smoke, with hands in his pockets.
”You really think you can win the war with fucking around?” Lino suddenly shifted his eyes away from the youth onto the Emperor, the latter suddenly feeling as though doused in the coldest water in the world. ”One more fuckery, and I'll crack your skull open and let your entire Empire fall before moving a single finger. Got it?”
”...”
”...” though many wished to sound out a voice, nobody dared to; those eyes hidden beneath the porcelain mask terrified them all to the very cores of their beings. After all, even though majority of the people in the room had higher Cultivation Realms than Lino, none -- not even the Emperor himself -- had cultivated the Will as overbearing and as powerful as Lino's. So long as it was a match in the overbearing attitude, Lino was certain very few were his match.
”... everyone beneath the Realms of Godhood, please leave.” a few full minutes into the suffocating silence, the voice of the Emperor suddenly sounded out. However, Lino didn't move his eyes away from the Emperor, forcing the latter to hold the gaze despite wanting to pull away.
Lino knew very well that Emperor Rex was not a fool; otherwise, he would have never inherited the throne. Had it been any other circumstance, Lino might have even played along with the charade, but there was no time for it. There were only two people besides him in the entire room who had realized Lino's identity, both of whom were sitting with their eyes closed, seemingly indifferent to the reality of things. All the rest, while perhaps strong enough to influence the war, certainly couldn't attribute much within this room. Tsk, Lino clicked his tongue inwardly. What a wasted opportunity... if Sarah or Ava saw me just then... he he, their husbands wouldn't know what hit them...
Soon, one by one, people began leaving. Some glanced at Lino with anger, some with hatred, some with agitation, and some even with fear. Within a minute, the previously packed room felt eerily empty, having only eleven people inside -- including Lino.
Looking around, besides the six already sitting, only four stood -- three elderly men and a girl. Lino quickly recognized her -- Elundia, the secret card of the Unholy Calling Sect, just a single level away from obtaining a Void Title. According to the information he received about her, she wasn't even a hundred years old yet. The world's truly filled with the monsters of all sorts...
Glancing casually at the remaining three, he turned around and walked back to the chair, sitting down before taking out a gourd of cheap ale and drinking some. Nobody else spoke out in the meantime, seemingly all waiting for him to say something.
”Now that the nuisances are gone,” Lino said after a few sips. ”Which Legion is invading?”
”... we are not too certain.” the Emperor said, biting his lower lip.
”Did you scout out the Commander?” Lino asked.
”Yes,” the Emperor nodded. ”He is a Sin-Devil Variant, as you have informed us. Tall, white hair, six horns, doesn't seem to wield a weapon.”
”... En'kav?” Lino mumbled, stroking his chin. ”They're starting out fairly weak, it seems. Are these all that you've managed to pull in without revealing my identity?”
”Yes.” the Emperor nodded faintly.
”From what I recall, the Southern ends of the Continent are led by the Anyua Family, correct?”
”Yes.”
”Why are they not here?”
”... they... they said their Leader was busy.”
”... busy, huh...” Lino mumbled, tapping his finger against the rather coarse surface of the table. ”Anyway, let's hear your guys' suggestions. What do you wanna do?” Lino said after a short thought. Though he had his own plans, it is possible he might have overlooked something; in the end, he didn't have any experience with commanding such large-scale battles.
”... if I may.” one of the two who kept his eyes closed all the while suddenly opened them. Lino glanced at the man and smiled faintly. He was none other than the Sky-bearing Monk, perhaps even the strongest man on the continent. As the Emperor and him never fought, it was hard to really make predictions. Even if nobody else arrived, it would have been enough for Lino if this man alone did. As most other Monks, the man donned a simple robes, his head entirely balded, eyes and lips thin and narrow, his face even somewhat menacing.
”Go on.” Lino nodded faintly.
”I first wish to confirm my suspicion,” the Monk said, bowing slightly. ”Is it alright if I divulge your potential identity to those in the unknown?” Lino merely nodded. ”Are you a Descended?”
”I am.” Lino replied casually, yet that casual remark suddenly stirred those who still appeared somewhat agitated.
”... so you really were,” the Monk suddenly smiled faintly, nodding. ”I found it suspicious that Little Rex suddenly decided to invite so many people over because of a small-time Devil invasion.”
”...”