My Celestial Ascension Chapter 915: Leaving The Empire

"Oh? What do you want to discuss, Princess Nerith?" Yuan inquired, gazing at her with a grin lighting up his features.

'She's been searching for my beloved? Well done, my dear... looks like I'll soon welcome another daughter-in-law in just a few days...' Anna Grace pondered, eyeing Yuan with a sly little smile playing on her lips.

"You must be aware of our empire's predicament already, right?" she questioned, easing herself onto the couch.

"Yes, that's correct. Your brother filled me in on the details, and it's a dire situation for your empire," Yuan responded, giving a nod. "More than a million undead monsters are marching toward the border. The situation could turn disastrous in a week or so."

"You're quite knowledgeable about this, Yuan. That's helpful, since I won't need to start from the beginning," Nerith said with a smile, caught off guard by how much he knew about the empire's troubles.

"So, what's on your mind? Does it concern the conflict?" he probed next, arching his eyebrows a bit while studying her with interest.

"You've hit the nail on the head, Yuan. It's about the war," Nerith confirmed with a nod. "I'd like to request your assistance in the battle. The undead forces are overwhelmingly powerful; we require every skilled fighter we can muster to stand against them."

"Hmm, no need to fret. We'll support you in the war. I've already promised your brother as much," Yuan assured her, flashing a warm smile.

"Ah, got it... I figured that fool hadn't approached you yet. Apparently, he hasn't lost all his wits," Nerith exhaled, a surge of relief flooding through her thoughts and frame.

'Having him on our side will cut down on our losses. Plus, I'm still in the dark about the true might of his allies,' she mused, her face softening noticeably.

Far from naive, she could plainly sense that Yuan's companions brimmed with immense power and harbored enormous reserves of spiritual energy inside them.

"Incidentally, Princess Nerith, I've got a request of my own," Yuan mentioned to her.

"What's that?" she replied, lifting her brows just a touch.

Smiling broadly, he continued, "Your brother mentioned you'll be journeying to the neighboring realms tomorrow. Would it be alright if we joined you on the trip?"

"Mind sharing why? What's drawing you to visit the other countries?" she pressed.

"We're simply eager to explore the continent a bit, nothing major," Yuan answered with a grin. "Given that you're off to rally alliances for the war, it made sense for us to travel together."

"On top of that, I realize time is short for you. If we come along, we could arrive at the Vampire Kingdom in mere minutes. That's way quicker than your standard travel options," Yuan elaborated.

"You're spot on. I truly can't afford delays. Reaching the Vampire Kingdom in half a day would be a miracle," Nerith agreed, letting out a gentle sigh.

After studying him briefly, she broke into a smile. "You've offered a shortcut to shave off travel time, so how could I say no? Fine, you're welcome to join me."

"Excellent. When do we set off?"

"Tomorrow at dawn. Rest well this evening—we'll depart immediately following breakfast," Nerith answered before exiting the room, leaving Yuan and his wives behind.

Come morning, once breakfast was done, Yuan and his group stepped out of the palace, having notified Rhex and Varia of their plans to leave.

Nerith stood waiting outside for them. She appeared stunning, free of any armor that day, her elegant curves subtly accentuated by the fabric of her gown.

"You seem transformed today, Princess Nerith," Yuan remarked with a smile, praising her outfit.

"Thanks. These aren't my usual garments, but as a representative visiting other lands, I adjusted my look accordingly," she responded, smiling back.

"Ready to head out?" he suggested, then retrieved the Empyreal Oblivion from his system storage.

The instant the enormous blade materialized in Yuan's grasp from seemingly nowhere, her eyes bulged in astonishment.

"H-How did you pull that off?! How'd you call forth this sword out of nothing?!" she exclaimed, staring in utter disbelief.

"That's my little secret," Yuan laughed lightly before flinging the sword skyward.

In a flash, he scooped Nerith around the waist and leaped onto the blade, balancing on it as it halted suspended in the air.

Nerith stood frozen in shock!

Only seconds earlier, she'd been firmly on solid ground, and now here she was, perched on Yuan's gigantic sword with his arms encircling her midsection.

"First time flying on a sword like this. I'm holding you steady so you won't tumble off—we'll be zipping along at breakneck pace," Yuan murmured right by her ear, his warm breath brushing against her skin.

A shiver coursed through her as she sensed Yuan embracing her from behind. An odd feeling bubbled up inside, quickening her pulse.

'Way too near! He's incredibly close!' she cried out in her mind, her face heating up.

Her body went rigid, and she found herself unable to move. Never before had she been this intimate with a man, but an unfamiliar coziness enveloped her.

'Does being near a man always feel this way... it's not unpleasant... actually soothing... is it him making it so? Could I be catching feelings for him?' she wondered, lost in thought and unaware they were soaring through the sky.

Yuan's wives soared beside him, watching intently—particularly as he clutched Nerith so securely.

'The princess doesn't seem to mind his hold on her... clearly, she's grown fond of him,' Anna Grace reflected, smirking to herself.

In mere minutes, they'd covered hundreds of kilometers, streaking past various territories.

"This velocity is unreal... No surprise you breezed through that enigmatic storm wall..." Nerith murmured, awestruck.

"We could push even harder. But speeds like that would overwhelm your body. What we're doing now is already pushing your boundaries," Yuan said, smiling.

"What?! We're already hurtling faster than I could dream! And you're telling me we could accelerate more?!" She twisted to face him, her features etched with amazement.

"What can I say? I'm even more extraordinary than you realize," Yuan boasted, wearing a confident grin.

Nearly half an hour later, they crossed into a shadowy expanse of the continent, where no light from the sun could penetrate.

"Odd... Why has it grown so dark all of a sudden?" Julie wondered aloud, scanning the surroundings with a baffled look.

"We've arrived in the Vampire Kingdom's domain. Eternal gloom envelops it... sunlight never touches this realm," Nerith explained, her expression grave.