SSS Awakening: Rebirth of the Strongest Vampire God Chapter 707 A princess in distress

Damon swiftly reached his choice. Since these fellows were all targeting a Kingdom, only one path lay open to him. He also needed to claim a Kingdom, but not merely any ordinary one. It had to be a colossal realm that would eclipse all the others in grandeur.

Damon's mind zeroed in on a lone title.

An empire.

A dominion that had endured through ages. A vast expanse covering numerous territories. A sovereignty endorsed by the Light Faction and myriad neutral forces without question.

Should he claim that…

Damon breathed out steadily, his blood essence surging just under his flesh as schemes swiftly emerged and polished themselves. His blood avatar kept at its relentless task, building power every second. Now, his actual form would embark on a parallel journey.

At that, Damon summoned a Blood Gate. Beyond its crimson portal, arid, scorching desert gusts swept through. "Greetings, western deserts." He smirked. The solution to every challenge he faced lay in the Great Western Desert Empire.

Whether in sheer expanse of lands or territories, or in abundance of assets, no Kingdom or Empire could rival the Great Western Desert Empire. If he could secure it without fail, the Golden Throne event would cease to be the prize of the ten families. It would become solely his.

Damon crossed the Blood Gate threshold, and the landscape shifted in a flash.

Scorching warmth enveloped him harmlessly as golden sands extended boundlessly in all directions, dunes undulating like petrified swells under a pitiless sun.

Damon then vanished and reappeared before the grand gates of the royal palace. He barely had time to pause before a known silhouette hurried his way. Surprisingly, it wasn't the individual he anticipated. Rather, it was the Emperor in person.

"I knew you would return." The elderly ruler chuckled. Yet, a clear note of sorrow lingered in his gaze.

"What occurred? Is all well? Your highness." Damon inquired.

The aged emperor halted mere paces from him. From this proximity, the burden of countless years appeared to weigh heavily upon the man's frame. His attire remained pristine, his posture erect, but the vigor Damon recalled had waned, supplanted by a fragile weariness.

"Let's head inside to discuss, Blood God. I presume you wish to keep your identity and arrival concealed?" The Emperor offered a faint smile as he guided Damon into the royal palace.

They stepped into a secluded room, devoid of guards or servants, featuring only a circular table hewn from a massive block of golden sandstone. The emperor motioned for Damon to take a seat, then settled himself, releasing a soft sigh.

"You aren't going to question how I sensed your presence?" The old man grinned.

Damon let out a light laugh. "It's alright. I was aware your emblem includes a tracking formation. I take no offense."

The old man's keen eyes examined him briefly before he sighed once more. "Then you must also be aware of Alzara's state." Abruptly, he grew somewhat restless and pressed, "Is that the reason for your visit? Do you possess knowledge of a remedy for my daughter? Maybe an alchemist from the Venom Sigil holds a cure?"

"Hmmm?" Damon arched an eyebrow. On this occasion, he truly lacked any clue about the events, but from the Emperor's statements, he could form a solid inference. "I must examine her first before offering any thoughts."

"…Of course," he answered softly, standing from his chair. His prior poise faltered slightly, exposing the vulnerable father beneath the regal facade, clinging to fading prospects. "She's recuperating in the Sun Veil Pavilion. The healers… the clerics… they've exhausted every option."

They departed the room and traversed the palace's inner corridors. The pavilion's doors parted without a sound.

Within, Alzara rested upon a plush bed, her form eerily motionless. Her breaths came faint, scarcely noticeable. Rays of sunlight streamed through the transparent ceiling overhead, enveloping her in light, yet the glow failed to touch her spirit.

"…Intriguing," Damon whispered. Clearly, poison coursed through her veins.

The emperor's restraint shattered immediately. His shoulders tensed, and the air he'd held burst forth in a ragged breath. "You can discern it so soon?" he queried, his tone quivering despite his efforts. "Do you believe… can you aid her?"

Despite his attempts at serenity, terror etched itself across his features. The sovereign who governed a vast empire now appeared helpless, his masks discarded before the vision of his child teetering on the brink. Ultimately, he ceased any pretense.

He advanced with a shaky stride, stare locked on Alzara.

"Blood God," the emperor rasped, his dignity yielding to raw plea. "I recognize you as the one who makes the unattainable possible. You eradicated three of the nine hidden orders in just one day." His words wavered. "Please… rescue my daughter."

He lowered his head, hands balled tightly.

"I will grant you whatever you desire."

Damon held back his response for a beat. He approached the bed nearer, his eyes scanning Alzara with detached precision. To the emperor, it could seem like detachment, but Damon was in fact unraveling the crisis step by step. Her mana flow dragged, irregular, as though something had bored into the channels. Even more dire, the toxin wasn't confined to her bloodstream. It had merged with her very being, embedding itself profoundly in her center like a leech dreading extraction.

"This poison is no common affliction," Damon stated at length. "And it wasn't designed for swift death."

The emperor's head jerked upward. "Then what purpose did it serve?"

"To decay her from within," Damon answered bluntly. "Someone intended to torment her. Force prolonged agony, erode her life force bit by bit, until no restorative magic could ease her pain."

The emperor shuddered. His digits dug into his garments, joints paling. "Who would have the audacity…?"