Chapter 154: A King’s Unwelcome Arrival

King Theron was a man of action, and his patience already thin, had worn to a thread.

The moment the Dukes departed, his gaze fell upon the unconscious form of Serena. He wasn’t one to waste time. A snap of his fingers, and two of his elite guards focused their attentions.

"Take her to the cells," he commanded with his voice devoid of emotion. "Ensure she’s well-guarded, and report any change, no matter how insignificant."

The guards bowed, scooped up Serena with ease, and swiftly exited the Grand Hall.

***

The very next dawn saw Theron depart from the palace, a rare occurrence indeed.

For a king who spent the vast majority of his time within the opulent confines of his domain, this was an almost unprecedented event.

High above the city, there was a speck against the vast expanse of the morning sky.

King Theron soared, a testament to his immense power. Most Sovereigns, upon reaching that exalted level, gained the ability of flight.

His destination was the Elven continent, and to reach it, Theron had to first pass through the Adventurer’s Association Capital outpost.

As he descended from the heavens, his presence washed over the outpost.

The seasoned workers, accustomed to the presence of high-ranking adventurers and mages, instantly recognized the overwhelming aura.



A hush fell over the bustling courtyard, and fear flickered in their eyes as they realized they were in the presence of their King. Many instinctively dropped to a knee, their heads bowed in deferential awe.

Theron, however, paid them no mind. He moved with purpose, striding directly toward the central teleportation formation.

He didn’t bother with intimidating glares or pronouncements; his mere presence was enough.

Stepping onto the intricate runes, a shimmering curtain of light enveloped him, and in the next instant, he was gone, transported into the depths of the Magical Forest.

To reach Eldryth, one had to traverse northward across this mystical expanse. Traveling eastwards or westwards would lead to the other human kingdoms, but Theron had his target firmly fixed in his mind.

Without a moment’s hesitation, he launched himself into the air once more, a swift arrow cutting through the canopy.

The flight to Eldryth was a test of endurance, even for a Transcendent like Theron.

He flew a day and a half of non-stop aerial travel, avoiding powerful beasts and creatures as he crossed by from above.

Until, finally, he hit an invisible obstacle.

"Ah, the barrier," Theron murmured to himself, a cruel smile playing on his lips. "I’ve arrived."

His plan was remarkably simple, almost brutally so. He was going to announce his presence in a way that left no room for doubt or evasion.

The Elven Queen, if she still lived, would have no option but to reveal herself. Should she fail to appear, then his suspicions would be confirmed: she was indeed dead, and the path to Zarion’s expansion would be clear.

As for how he would make his presence known, that was no problem at all.

Theron ascended higher into the sky, soaring until the ground lay far beneath him.



With a predatory glint in his eyes, he extended a hand. He uttered no incantation; but in the next instant, a tiny spark of fire materialized in his palm, flickering innocently.

But it didn’t remain tiny for long. With each passing second, the spark grew, and grew, and grew.

It expanded rapidly, a miniature sun forming in the sky, radiating intense heat and light.

Only when it had reached a terrifying scale did Theron release it.

~WHOOOOMPH!~

The sound was deafening, a concussive blast that ripped through the air as the colossal fireball hurtled downwards, slamming squarely into the invisible magical barrier that protected the Elven outpost.

The impact resonated deeply, sending shockwaves through the very earth, and on the other side, a wave of sheer panic erupted amongst the Elves.

The Elven guards stationed at the outpost were instantly thrown into chaos.

"What was that?!" one shrieked, scrambling to his feet. Others stood frozen, their eyes wide with disbelief, wondering what impossible force had just struck their impenetrable defenses.

They were still trying to comprehend the magnitude of the attack when, with unnerving calm, Theron conjured more fireballs, each almost as large as the first, and hurled them, one after another, at the same point on the barrier.

~BOOOM! BOOOM! BOOOM!~

The relentless assault was too much. The magical barrier that they assumed to be impenetrable immediately shattered.

It dissolved into shimmering motes of light, revealing the terrifying figure floating majestically above them.

The Elves, their faces pale with a mixture of terror and outrage, finally saw him.



A lone young human was responsible for the destruction of their shield.

A wave of desperate courage, born of instinct and loyalty, surged through them.

"Intruder!" a voice bellowed, and instantly the Elven mages began to chant, their voices rising in a discordant chorus of spells.

Bolts of lightning, streams of ice, and jagged shards of earth materialized and shot towards Theron.

But with a casual snap of his fingers, an almost dismissive gesture, all the incoming spells inexplicably veered off course, flying wildly in every conceivable direction, harmlessly dispersing into the forest.

Theron began to descend, floating slowly towards them like a predator approaching its prey.

Despite their forced determination, the sheer terror emanating from the Elves was evident.

Their legs trembled, their hands shook, and their eyes were wide and unblinking. Some tried to flee from the terrifying figure, but their feet seemed rooted to the ground, paralyzed by an unseen force — Theron’s oppressive aura.

When he was close enough, just a few paces from the trembling guards, he finally spoke, his voice resonating with an unnerving calm that belied his immense power.

"I am here for Queen Gaya." His eyes, cold and piercing, swept over their terrified faces. "Where is she?"

The Elves swallowed hard, their throats dry with fear. One, braver or perhaps more terrified than the rest, stammered out,

"W-we don’t know. She should be at the palace. Perhaps if you... if you allow us to call her?"