Daemon dismounted steadily, his hard boot soles deliberately grinding over the red rose petals strewn across the ground.
"A distinguished guest! Please come in, Prince Daemon." The tall, thin old man feigned enthusiastic warmth, raising a hand to his chest. As he moved, his cuff seemingly slipped inadvertently, revealing a dazzling purple gem on his wrist—its luster and cut were identical to Cenera's!
"Shall we move inside to discuss the details?"
Daemon's hawk-like gaze instantly fixed on the gem, his pupils contracting imperceptibly.
Then, he let out a cold laugh, simultaneously stepping back half a pace. With a "clang," Void-Breaker was drawn! "No need! I think it's quite good out here, the place is bright, let's talk right here!" His voice was decisive, allowing no room for argument.
"Oh? Your Highness... do you not trust us?" The smile on the tall, thin old man's face froze, replaced by a feigned hint of regret.
"We're all thousand-year-old foxes, so let's cut the pretense," Daemon's sneer deepened as he stared directly at the other party, "Cenera's side... it must be full of your spies too, right?"
"You're overthinking it!" The tall, thin old man quickly plastered on a smile, though his tone carried an invisible threat, "As long as you are willing to cooperate and share Valyria's glory with everyone, I guarantee that no one will suffer any unnecessary harm..."
"Enough nonsense!" Daemon impatiently interrupted, his sword tracing a cold arc in front of him. "Let's get straight to it! How exactly do you want to cooperate?"
"It's very simple, sincere cooperation is a once-in-a-lifetime win-win for everyone present!" The tall, thin old man spread his arms as if outlining a grand blueprint. "Dragon eggs! Your dragon is a precious female dragon, isn't she? We yearn to rebuild the great Freehold Empire with you! And everyone present will gain supreme glory, becoming new Dragonlord families! As for you..." He bowed to Daemon with almost fawning deference, "You will naturally become our supreme leader, ascending the throne of the King of Volantis without bloodshed!"
"Ha!" Daemon sounded as if he had heard the most ridiculous joke in the world, letting out an undisguised scoff. "Quite the ambition, a good plan. But... why should I hand over Hela's descendants—the cornerstone of my future power—to you greedy ants?"
"You... what did you say?!" The fawning expression on the tall, thin old man's face instantly shattered, turning into astonishment and an incredulous fury. "You disagree?"
"Of course!" Daemon's voice was as cold as winter ice. "Why should I agree?!"
"That's a chance to be crowned king without bloodshed!" The old man snarled, exasperated, still making a final struggle. "You..."
"If I want to be king," Daemon interrupted him, each word like a heavy hammer striking the silent air, "I can at any time! I don't need you rats hiding in the shadows to 'bestow' it upon me!"
"Heh! In that case, then I ask you—to die!"
The sharp whistle of arrows splitting the air suddenly burst forth! Daemon's body arched back like a pre-drawn bowstring! Three crossbow bolts, glowing with an ominous blue light and clearly tipped with potent venom, whizzed past the tip of his nose with the stench of death, "Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!" embedding themselves deeply into the stone pillar beside him!
Almost simultaneously, ten Merriweather warriors roared and charged forward with their shields, but two figures suddenly fell like stalks of wheat broken by the wind! The sharp arrows cruelly pierced through the soft armor of their gorgets, bringing out two sprays of blood from their throats. As they fell, their eyes held an incomprehensible shock.
Daemon's younger son's eyes instantly became bloodshot, like a raging young lion, he swung his sword and charged forward recklessly!
However, as the second wave of crossbow bolts rained down again, Daemon did not retreat but advanced! His entire being was like a black lightning bolt tearing through the air, bravely rushing forward despite the dense whooshing sounds! Void-Breaker instantly danced into a dazzling silver arc in his hand, so dense that not even water could penetrate it. The clanging of metal impacts rang out as one, arrows were cut down like broken branches, and shattered shafts fell like rain.
The tall, thin old man, still in shock, hastily drew a gleaming golden ceremonial sword. He had barely raised it halfway when there was a crisp "clang"! Daemon's blade sliced through it as easily as cutting tofu, turning it into two sparkling pieces!
"Charge! Kill them!" The terrified old Tiger Party leader let out a heart-wrenching shriek!
Three hundred brightly armored Tiger Party soldiers, armed with sharp blades, roared and surged forward like a tide from all directions!
For the first time, a few warm, iron-smelling drops of blood splattered onto Daemon's face! He casually used the hard, cold spine of his Valyrian steel sword to bat away a sharp spear tip that lunged at him from the side, his movements fluid and unobstructed! His figure flashed like a ghost, and he had already plunged headfirst into the densest enemy ranks!
The slaughter unfolded like a meticulously choreographed violent art. Wherever Void-Breaker passed, the air was torn, emitting a mournful wail! Thick iron shields exploded into pieces like brittle biscuits! Piercing screams and teeth-grinding metallic wails rose and fell, intertwining into a symphony of death!
A soldier slyly thrust at him from his side-rear. Daemon didn't even turn his head, his wrist making a nimble and vicious backhand slash! The cold sword tip precisely pierced through the opponent's Adam's apple! Hot blood spattered like a small fountain, covering his cheek and his back, which was already dark red with blood.
Daemon's elder son was cornered in the courtyard by three well-coordinated soldiers, and the gleaming spear tips were about to pierce his young chest! Daemon lightly stepped on a piled corpse beneath his feet, his body leaping up swiftly like a large bird! Void-Breaker carved out a stunningly cold arc of light! Slash! Slash! Slash! Three iron-helmeted heads rolled into the dust almost simultaneously! He landed steadily, his right foot sweeping out like an iron whip. With a dull "thud," he heavily kicked away an archer hiding nearby, preparing to loose a sneak arrow! His sword then followed with a swift, upward diagonal thrust! Another soldier screamed, clutching his sliced abdomen, and fell into the vibrant, eye-stinging rose bush, staining countless petals red...
This brutal, one-sided massacre seemed to last for an eternity. Finally...