Divine Emperor of Death

In the northern hemisphere of the New Era Battle Arena, the three Emperors sat together, looking contemplative. As for the empty fourth seat, its owner had run for his life with his tail between his legs.

"Any signs of the source?"

"Sigh, not yet…"

The Mandate Emperor sent a soul transmission while the Karmic Guardian Emperor shook his head.

Their expressions, combined with the Starnova Emperor's, were one of worry. So many things had happened in the past three days, and the competition came to an end almost a few times over with the young and powerful ones running rampant. However, they weren't bothered about that but were worried about the source of the Calamity Light.

One was a world-ending matter while the other was just a few kids playing around, sometimes going too far. They couldn't help but feel the tension in their heart grow each hour, making them feel some unease.

The divination the Karmic Guardian Emperor made back then had been accurate. There was no doubt about that.

However, he didn't divine the source itself but the possibility of the source appearing in the New Era Battle Arena. Therefore, they didn't know the identity of the source, nor could they find it even after divining, again and again, a lot of times every night after the battles had ended.

After all, the closer or higher the level of the source, the more difficult it is to divine its location or what it even is. They abandoned finding whether the source was a human or something else as it was more difficult. The least they could do was divine its location to a wide radius.

However, all divinations told that the source had appeared in the New Era Battle Arena but where exactly amidst the millions of people? It was like finding a needle in a haystack. It would be worse if the source weren't even a human but a specific lifeform like a pebble lying somewhere, perhaps underneath someone's seat.

Who would know what kind of power that pebble possesses and what kind of calamity it would bring if touched?

That's why they felt more and more apprehensive as time kept perishing. The sun had set at this moment, leaving them with three and a quarter of a day left. Perhaps, if they don't resort to aggressive tactics, they might never find the source at this rate.

As they planned out how to possibly smoke out the source from hiding, Honorable Elder Julian Kruse took out the next lot for the next battle.

When they saw who it was, they weren't interested and continued discussing. However, they became surprised to see who that person challenged.

In the Alstreim Family's seating area, everyone turned to look at Davis. However, they didn't look at him but the women beside him, specifically a crimson robed woman who appeared stunned before her eyes appeared cold.

She didn't say anything before she flew towards the battle stage.

When she arrived, she stared at the man who had challenged her. Her crimson hair swayed in the air as she had her eyes narrowed, brimming with hostility and ill-will.

It was none other than Zestria.

"You dare challenge me, Lazar Domitian?"

Lazar Domitian also wore a crimson robe, but different from what Zestria wore, it was from a cloth of the Domitian Family.

People looked at him, knowing that he was the Young Master of the Domitian Family. However, he already broke through to the Ninth Stage in both Essence Gathering Cultivation and Body Tempering Cultivation. They low-key wondered why Lazar Domitian would take part in the Eighth Stage Segment.

After all, it could be considered bullying.

It would be alright if he only possessed one cultivation at the Eighth Stage and another at Ninth Stage like many others, but to have both cultivations at Ninth Stage and challenge someone weaker had them looking down on him until now where they could see that he possibly did it for this moment.

However, they couldn't tell what he was up to.

Lazar Domitian nodded and didn't say anything.

Shortly, the barrier activated, and Honorable Elder Julian Kruse announced the battle to start.

However, neither of them moved, seemingly having something to say to each other.

Lazar Domitian took a deep breath, his expression complex.

"Zestria, I-"

"Shut up! You of all people don't deserve to call me by my name."

Zestria waved her hand as she screamed. It was like she had no chill, causing Lazar Domitian to become dumbfounded by her hate. However, he didn't seem to be discouraged.

"Little sister, I know I have made mistakes in the past. However, remember who you are; remember your roots as a Domitian. Back then, we were all nervous and felt like the Emperor of Death had a blade under our throats. However, it was our misunderstanding that caused us to fall into that position. Perhaps, we should have tried harder and been sincere towards his eminence, but it's all in the past now. Let us move forward."

Lazar Domitian's tone was one of pleading and sincerity, causing Zestria to narrow her eyes.

"If you are free as the Golden Dragon Queen claimed to be, then you should be able to come back. Come back, and we are prepared to host a grand marriage for you and the Emperor of Death."

"…!"

Zestria's heart shook as she heard his words that were filled with hope and pleading.

A grand marriage with Davis in the Domitian Family?

Zestria couldn't help but imagine it, and it was dazzling and wonderful.

Davis's lips curled.

At first, he thought that this Lazar Domitian was courting death by trying to woo his Zestria in public. It seemed that Lazar Domitian was Zestria's half-brother, but he knew what kind of relationship dynamic the Dragon Families retained. However, it didn't seem like the case as he now understood that this Lazar Domitian was trying to have him, the Emperor of Death as the Domitian Family's backer by manipulating Zestria into rejoining the Domitian Family.

Lazar Domitian was intent on using Zestria to gain his favor. Davis knew this was the case just after hearing it but could Zestria understand it while being influenced by her deep emotions towards him?

Some people could see this clearly, but many could not.

It was more likely that Zestria would fall for it, forgetting her hatred against the Domitian Family for abandoning and sacrificing her.

After all, in a family, even irrevocable hatred sometimes ends up being forgotten as time would heal their hearts.

Davis felt like he should warn Zestria, but he also wanted to hear her answer. However, her trembling figure made him feel sorrow for her.

Back then, he could stay indifferent about her and the Dragon Families' plight, but now, since she was one of his dearests, he could not stand her going through such conflicting emotions.

Just when he was about to warn her, Zestria's trembling stopped, and she raised her head to look at Lazar Domitian.

"It sounds good."

Lazar Domitian's expression produced a smile as though he became truly happy.

"Right? We have already talked about it. Patriarch Zeramus had also approved of this matter, willing to welcome you with warm hands and put the past to res-"

"However," Zestria rudely interrupted, "I still remember you kneeling to me to become a sacrifice for the greater good of the Domitian Family and to think that I was almost promised to you back then. Thanks to the fit I threw, I didn't get promised to you but after that incident, even being associated with someone like you is a disgrace."

"You-!"

"Do you know why I rejected you despite you being the perfect candidate at that time?"

A sneer emerged on Zestria's crimson lips, hidden behind her veil.

"Because I knew you were a scheming bastard like our father."

Lazar Domitian became stunned. His body trembled on hearing her attack one of his sore points like that, causing him to snap.

"Zestria, you cannot insult our dead father like that, and what I'm trying to do is ultimately for the good of you and our fam-"

"Die!"

Zestria launched herself towards him, using her explosive movement technique.

She almost instantly arrived before him, swinging her leg like a flail towards his neck.

Lazar Domitian's expression changed. He was faster, but his body was unable to move according to his senses because of his sealed cultivation. He raised his hand to dodge when Zestria's leg struck his arm, breaking it as an audible crack sound echoed, sending him flying like a kite that had its strings cut.

Zestria followed his trail, crimson-gold flames emerging from her body as she looked like a Fire Dragon.

"Starry Descent of the Fire Dragon."

Lazar Domitian's scalp turned numb as he saw Zestria burning her blood essence to use one of the terrifying techniques of the Fire Dragon's Retribution Flameworld Codex!

She truly was intent on killing him at this rate!