Chapter 428 – Tandak

The Huaibien Kingdom possessed a Master-Level warrior as its Kingdom Protector, and this powerful combat professional was simultaneously the king of this nation.

As a warrior, Tandak Breeze could be considered exceptional. Without doubt, achieving the sixteenth level as a Master-Level warrior at just over thirteen hundred years old already qualified as “talented.” After all, not everyone could be compared to freaks like Punk and Kane. At the very least, when measured against most professionals who remained stagnant at levels fifteen or sixteen until their dying days, Tandak still had some grounds for pride.

However, compared to his performance as a combat professional, Tandak was utterly incompetent as a king. In fact, many ministers believed that if their Majesty the King understood even the slightest bit of politics, the Kingdom wouldn’t have descended into its current state of fragmentation and rampant cult activity.

Unfortunately, Tandak was the quintessential muscle-brained warrior who always preferred solving problems with his fists. He was fundamentally unsuited to be a king. His throne had been won entirely through bloody slaughter, and his rule relied completely on the terrifying deterrence of his personal power.

After all, this world belonged to the strong. No matter how brainless or tyrannical, as long as one possessed sufficient strength, no one could challenge a king’s throne.

After Tandak advanced to Master-Level, no one in the entire Kingdom dared voice any opposition. The ever “violence-first” Tandak consequently became convinced of what he considered an absolute truth: “Fists will always be more important than brains!”

This raised the question: What could possibly trouble such a king?

Wealthy merchants becoming too powerful to control? No – if merchants grew too rich, the king could simply seize their assets and return them to poverty.

Peasants rebelling due to unbearable living conditions? Certainly not – brutally executing large numbers would quickly restore order.

For Tandak, only one circumstance could truly frustrate him and even drive him to despair: the loss of his violent power!

This was precisely why Tandak now lay slumped on his throne, sighing in misery.

The magical curse-induced injuries had caused massive life force drainage, transforming Tandak from the muscular strongman with steel-like physique into a wrinkled old wreck. Seated on his cold throne, Tandak could feel his power slowly fading every day, helpless to prevent the deterioration.

The current Tandak felt not only frustrated about his physical condition but also despairing about his Kingdom’s situation. During his peak when his power was irresistible, absolute violent suppression had maintained superficial “harmony and peaceful coexistence” throughout the Kingdom. But now that this “tyrant” lay critically ill, all the deeply buried conflicts within the Kingdom were erupting simultaneously.

First, several powerful Lords openly declared their allegiance to the Nightmare Cult. Then endless local rebellions emerged. Finally, even the typically insignificant goat-men began gathering forces to plunder across the lands.Tandak felt as if the entire world had been turned upside down the moment he woke up. One troublesome, helpless matter after another came crashing down upon him. Yet, despite his overwhelming anxiety, Tandak could only lie on his throne, watching helplessly as his Kingdom crumbled before his eyes, as the tendrils of the Nightmare Cult enveloped city after city…

“What a disgrace. To think that I, Tandak, would become such a pitiable King.”

With trembling, withered fingers, he picked up a glass of wine and slowly drank it, feeling the fiery sting as the liquid slid down his throat. Tandak let out another heavy sigh.

“Your Majesty! Your Majesty!”

Just as Tandak, lost in sorrow, was about to let his Battle Aura relax and allow the alcohol to take effect, a sudden voice echoed through the vast Royal Hall.

“That voice… the Captain of Guards? When did he arrive… How pitiful. Has my perception deteriorated to the point where I can no longer even sense a warrior who has just reached the Formal-Level?”

At this thought, a sudden, inexplicable rage surged within Tandak. He abruptly sat up and, without even looking, roared loudly:

“Get out! All of you, get out! I haven’t fallen so low that I need guards to protect me or maids to serve me. All of you, leave!”

In his fury, he hurled the Silver Goblet in his hand toward the center of the hall. The burst of Battle Aura imbued the goblet with terrifying force. With a sharp whistle, the goblet, compressed into a sphere by the air, shot across the hall toward three figures standing in the center, its momentum nearly tearing through space. The shockwave was so powerful that even the magically reinforced walls of the Royal Palace cracked.

Boom!

Just as the goblet flew toward him, the Captain of Guards thought he was about to suffer severe injuries. After all, this was a goblet thrown by a Master-Level warrior in a fit of rage. Even if this Master-Level warrior was weakened to the brink of death, the power of a single strike was still far beyond what a mere Formal-Level warrior could withstand.

But as the Captain closed his eyes and focused his Battle Aura to brace for the impact, a deafening explosion echoed through the hall—yet the attack he feared never came.

Opening his eyes with a hint of panic, the Captain saw a hand covered in black scales. The remnants of the “goblet,” melted by the intense heat generated by its extreme speed, were dripping one by one from the dragon scales on that hand onto the floor of the hall.

“Tandak Breeze, out of courtesy, I can address you as Your Majesty. Though I am merely a traveler, I must remind you that venting your anger indiscriminately on innocent subordinates is hardly the mark of a qualified King.”

Slowly retracting the black scales, a black-haired youth calmly stepped past the Captain of Guards. Then, without any hesitation, he raised his head and faced the furious King on the throne.

There was no need to guess—this youth was none other than Ovakain, who had followed Aisha to the Royal Palace.

“My way of doing things requires no commentary from others! As for you… a Master-Level powerhouse? And it seems you’re not even human. Heh, my Kingdom is truly lively. The moment this King falls, all sorts of monsters and demons come crawling out of the woodwork.”He let out a self-mocking chuckle. Sensing the aura Ovakin deliberately released, Tandak quickly reined in his baseless anger.

Had it been his old temper, he would have fought anyone who wanted to speak with him first to determine who was stronger. But now…

Watching Ovakain’s friendly smile, Tandak slumped weakly back onto his throne, panting heavily.

Though Ovakain’s soul aura gave Tandak a strange sense of dissonance, even from surface observation alone, the king knew he was no match for this youth. After all, he was now just an old man clinging to his last breath—even tossing a wine cup would leave him gasping for air, with barely any strength left to speak of.

(Seeking votes at month’s end~)

(End of Chapter)