Chapter 199-1: Fooled into Limping Again (Part 1)

Words : 1283 Updated : Oct 5th, 2025

June 17th. Green City, Western District. Inside the main hall of a luxurious manor, an oval-shaped, wooden long table stood in the center, flanked by a ring of armchairs, each currently occupied by a human. Sitting in a seat of honor beside the head of the table was the Level 15 Shadow High Priest Emi. At the head sat the imposing figure of Grote, a Level 16 Bloodline Descendant, formerly a Northern Warrior. This once rugged Northern Warrior had grown more handsome after becoming a vampire. Yet the boldness unique to Northern Warriors hadn't faded. Instead, it had transformed into a noble, charismatic kind of bravado. His masculine charm was overwhelming. Besides the two, fifteen more figures sat around the table, each one exuding an impressive aura. Anyone who focused their senses could tell they were all Advanced Professionals above Level 10. A Level 15 Shadow Priest and a Level 16 Northern Warrior, leading fifteen Level 10 Advanced Professionals, this was undeniably a powerful force. Yet Emi and Grote showed little sign of satisfaction. Because they were in deep trouble. More precisely, the Dark Pact was in deep trouble. Emi's expression was heavy, appearing even more serious under the warm yellow light of the magical lamp. “After more than half a month of gathering, we’ve mustered only fifteen Level 10 Professionals from the Dark Pact, and 104 Intermediate Professionals between Levels 5 and 9. This strength isn’t weak, but it’s far short of our expectations.” His voice was low, clearly displeased with the numbers. After speaking, he turned to glance at the group around the table, his gaze intense. The Dark Pact, built over decades by Viscount Berna, had once been incredibly powerful. At its peak, it boasted over forty Advanced Professionals above Level 10 and more than two thousand Intermediate Professionals. It was the leading force among the three major underground factions in Green City. But now, after Viscount Berna and the eight-armed Serpent Demon Roy vanished, the Dark Pact had been relentlessly hunted by Green City's military. In just over a month, it was on the verge of collapse. The former underground titan was now but a shadow of its former self. If not for the efforts of Emi and Grote in gathering the remnants, the Dark Pact likely would have been wiped out completely. Even if some hidden forces still secretly controlled by Viscount Berna had survived the military assault, the decades of work would have gone up in smoke. “Those damned Green City soldiers acted like they were cursed by a Necromancer, completely insane. They slaughtered our allies without hesitation. We’re lucky to even have this many people left. That’s the favor of the Goddess of Luck. And on top of that, we’ve got that disgusting Mind Eater stealing our people!! That bastard. I swear I’ll cut off his filthy head with my blade someday!” Grote shook his head, clearly displeased. This was the first mission assigned to him by the Lord Progenitor, yet he was struggling to complete it, something that deeply frustrated him. But with the Green City military launching reckless assaults, and the Dark Pact without Viscount Berna’s leadership, it was already crippled. There was nothing more he could do to change that reality. Emi’s eyes glinted thoughtfully as he turned toward a warrior clad in silver armor. “Gary, are you sure half of the Dark Pact members have defected to Wales?” Gary, seated beside Emi, had anger in his eyes. “Yes, Lord Emi. I contacted some of our former allies, at least half have sided with that damn Mind Eater!” Mind Eater Wales, one of the top three underground bosses of Green City, on par with Viscount Berna. This wicked and terrifying figure controlled one-fifth of the Western District’s territory. Emi’s expression turned wary at the mention of the Mind Eater. “That damned lunatic!!” Wales had once been human, but his obsession with evil led him to revere demons. He had performed some legendary, forbidden ritual and acquired half-demonic blood. After defeating his enemies, his favorite act was to cut out their still-beating hearts and devour them. The Mind Eater Wales was a name that could make even the most battle-hardened warriors weak in the knees throughout the Western District. Now that such a powerful boss had stolen what should have been their strength, Emi and Grote were both furious and cautious. “Wales isn’t acting alone. His Demon Heart faction controls one-fifth of the Western District. He’s a formidable enemy,” Emi said grimly. “Viscount Berna has been missing for over a month. That twisted Mind Eater probably couldn’t hold back his urges any longer. It was only natural for him to strike. Even without him, someone else would’ve eventually moved to consume the Dark Pact’s power.” Grote’s voice was low and dark. The underground world was far from kind. Here, in pursuit of power and wealth, some had even sold their souls to devils. The Dark Pact had relied entirely on Viscount Berna and several top-tier powerhouses for its deterrence. That was how it had become one of the big three in the Western District. But now, Viscount Berna had been hunted by a Transcendent and was missing. Most of the other top-tier forces had also been slain by Li De. This created a power vacuum. If it weren’t for Viscount Berna’s lingering deterrent effect and the strength that remained, the Dark Pact would have already been torn apart by the wolves hiding in the shadows. “Gary, what about the Fallen Warrior Philip?” “The Fallen Warriors haven’t acted. They don’t seem interested in seizing territory or absorbing the Dark Pact,” Gary replied, sounding slightly relieved. The major underground forces of Green City were concentrated in the densely populated, chaotic Western District. Among the many underground powers there, three stood as titans. The Dark Pact led by Viscount Berna, the Demon Heart led by Mind Eater Wales, and the Sinking Mist led by the Fallen Warrior Philip. These three rose to the top through overwhelming strength in a sea of small factions. Each of them concealed unimaginable power. Behind the scenes, they were entangled with Green City’s elite nobility, holding sway not only in the shadows but also within the city’s illuminated high society. Thus, the three were the benchmark of Green City’s dark world. Now that the Dark Pact’s influence had crumbled due to Berna’s disappearance and Demon Heart was moving in, Emi and Grote were under immense pressure. By their estimate, at least one-third of the Dark Pact’s personnel had already been absorbed by Demon Heart. Emi could swear to the gods, if they didn’t act immediately, the rest would soon follow. At that point, the Dark Pact would no longer be a mighty underground power. It would be a fringe, irrelevant faction. Neither Emi nor Grote could accept that. The Dark Pact was meant to be taken over by Li De. Losing it was not an option. If Demon Heart devoured most of its strength, there would be no point in taking over what little remained. “We must turn this around,” Grote said coldly. “If that damned Mind Eater won’t withdraw from the Dark Pact’s territory... Then we’ll snap his neck and send him straight to the Abyssal Demons!” Northern Warriors knew no fear. Even after becoming a Bloodline Descendant, the fearless spirit forged in the North made him care little for a Mind Eater. Violence remained the most direct way to solve problems. Power is truth. It wasn’t just a mantra of the God of Fairness and Justice, it was the creed of every Northern Warrior.

Chapter 199-1: Fooled into Limping Again (Part 1)

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