SSS Awakening: Rebirth of the Strongest Vampire God Chapter 717 Time to go all out

The crown prince stood rigid for a long duration, his fists balled tight enough that crimson droplets seeped between his knuckles. His jaw remained locked, his teeth grinding with a sound akin to bone snapping. Suddenly, the system panel glowed with increased intensity before him.

With agonizing slowness, he lifted his hand. A finger trembled as it hovered over the document. “I refuse to bend the knee,” he spat out gruffly. “But I have no intention of perishing like a common cur, either.” With a swift gesture, he planted his palm onto the surface.

Ding. The contract was sealed.

“A wise decision,” Damon murmured with a nod. “You still draw breath. That simple fact puts you leagues ahead of the many who have tried to end my life.”

The crown prince offered no reply. He kept his gaze fixed firmly on the floor, laboring for breath, refusing to acknowledge anyone. Nearby, the surviving experts remained in silent prayer, having accepted the terms of the contract without an alternative.

The emperor released a shaky breath, as if shedding years of dormant pressure. He glanced at the kneeling subjects, then back to Damon. “It is finished,” he stated, struggling to process the reality of the moment. The clandestine orders that had haunted their Great Western Desert for countless generations had been brought to heel in an instant.

And this was not the work of some fearsome B-rank beast. This feat was accomplished by an individual who, much like themselves, stood within the C rank. The mere thought of what such a powerhouse might achieve upon reaching the B rank caused a collective shudder to run through the room.

“Blood God! Though I hoisted you to the throne of this Great Western Desert on a fleeting whim, I must admit I held my reservations,” the aged emperor wheezed as he gulped down a vial of restorative tonic. “But now, my wavering has been extinguished. You are the fated sovereign of these sands. Under your command, this realm shall finally enjoy tranquility and true prosperity.”

He braced himself and rose, leaning heavily on his staff while his eyes scanned the kneeling subordinates. All traces of mercy had vanished, replaced by cold resolve. “Remove them. Every single one. Strip them of their status, their assets, and their legacies, and command them to answer to the new emperor. From this hour forth, these men shall labor to expiate their transgressions for the remainder of their days.”

“By your command, Your Majesty!” the imperial guards bellowed in unison, surging forward.

Alzara let out a ragged breath, seemingly only now grasping that she had survived. She leaned into Damon, clutching his sleeve tightly. “Is it… truly over? Are you unharmed? That sorceress’s soul attack was merciless. I ought to have warned you. Pray, forgive me. My focus has been selfish and narrow, concerned only with my own skin.”

Damon gifted her a smile and shook his head dismissively. “It is of no consequence. Do not fret over it. Your duty is not to shield me; that is a burden I carry for you. As for that matter...” Damon understood clearly what he needed to address next.

Alzara tried to interject, but her voice died in her throat as Damon began manifesting a Blood Gate directly to the Dark faction continent portal. “Alzara, would you care to meet the rest of my kin?”

Alzara blinked, bewildered. Damon turned his attention to the elder emperor and extended the same invitation. “I believe both of you should accompany me.”

The father and daughter pair were stunned, as the empire had only recently undergone a radical transformation. Even with the primary threat neutralized, numerous smaller disputes remained that demanded attention. Left unaddressed, civil unrest could fester, posing a legitimate risk of the empire’s collapse. After all, the shift brought about by this event was undeniably cataclysmic. A Light faction empire governed by entities from both the Light and Dark factions together?

It was an unprecedented occurrence!

“I do not believe that is a prudent course of action,” the old emperor stated with a firm shake of his head.

Damon offered a bitter smile. He began to clarify his intentions. Naturally, he had no desire to keep the truth from Alzara or the emperor. Transparency was vital. However, upon finishing his explanation, Damon realized he had likely underestimated the shock such intelligence would cause.

“B… B rank…?” The old emperor gasped, his eyes wide with disbelief. “How did you incur the wrath of such a being?”

“It is essential that I secure as many territories as possible for a specific trial.”

The emperor stared at Damon as if surveying a catastrophe draped in the skin of a man. For a long, silent moment, he was struck dumb.

“You provoked a B-rank entity,” he finally croaked, “all for the sake of a trial?”

Damon threw his hands up in a gesture of helplessness. “When you phrase it that way, it does sound rather unhinged.”

“‘Rather’?”

The emperor rubbed a hand across his weary face. “Do you possess any understanding of what the B rank signifies? That individual does not merely command cities or kingdoms. That is one who can erase empires simply because they were mildly inconvenienced.”

“I am well aware,” Damon responded with unnatural calm. “That is precisely why I desisted. The moment I attained the threshold I required, I retracted my forces. No further Light-faction incursions. No more mass slaughter. As far as they are concerned, I am no longer a point of interest.”

The emperor squinted at him, searching for certainty. “And you are confident in this?”

Damon could only shrug. “I recognize it was perhaps excessive, but I have halted my campaign. I will not be annexing further Light-faction cities. It is highly probable that the B-rank power has already turned its gaze elsewhere. Furthermore, we are refraining from an official announcement. This should serve to keep the B rank from intervening.”

“Still, it would be foolish to trust that silence alone stops the flow of information. My continued presence here might incite the B rank to target this empire. Though I doubt he would openly harm civilians, he might strike at those closest to me. Consequently, I am implementing precautions.”

The monarch nodded, contemplative. After a long pause, he echoed his query, “You mentioned… gathering territories for a trial. What sort of endeavor demands such a scale?”

Damon provided a brief summary, as he himself was not privy to every detail. The emperor, however, appeared lost in deep thought. After some time, he broke his silence.

“If you have already gambled so heavily, and there is a possibility that this trial leads to something monumental, you must commit fully. Concealment serves no purpose anymore.”

How could Damon be blind to the emperor’s implication? “That is unnecessary. It would invite needless carnage, which I wish to circumvent.”

“Hmph.” The emperor snorted. “Blood God, I concede we are not your equals in strength, but do not mistake our Great Western Desert Empire for a sacrifice. We have endured for thousands of years amidst predators. We are capable of defense, even against a B rank. If a typhoon is fated to emerge, the desert does not kneel.”

Alzara gasped, her voice sharp. “Father—”

“Alzara, heed your father. Depart with the Blood God and seek refuge in the wilderness alongside his followers. I shall manage affairs here.” The old emperor turned to Damon and offered an affirming nod. “Place your faith in these weathered bones and entrust the empire to me one final time; I shall not fail these dunes. I will not permit a single soul to threaten this domain. Go now, conquer this trial, and return with greater power. Enough power that you need never hide from any challenger again.”

An instant later, a flurry of notifications chimed, with multiple displays erupting before Damon’s eyes.

[Ding! Global Announcement: Blood Domain has seized the Great Western Desert Empire.]

[Ding! All garrisoned forces of the Great Western Desert Empire have yielded to the Blood God.]

[Ding! The Blood God has been inaugurated as the new Emperor of the Great Western Desert Empire.]

[Ding! The Blood God has asserted sovereign control over the Great Western Desert Empire.]

[Ding! Blood Domain has disrupted the regional balance of power. Influence across the continent is realigning…]

[Ding! Achievement Completed: Imperial Authority]

[Ding! New Guild Territories Acquired]

[Ding! New Trade Routes Established]

[Ding! New Resource Management Interface Unlocked]

[Ding! New Military Command Interface Unlocked]

[Ding! Territory Bonus Active: Blood Domain shops, residential housing, fortifications, and tax systems are operational.]

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