Dungeon of Pride, Laplace

Chapter 940- The Shadow Lurks (3)

Everybody including him thought that the Demon Earl was out of his place to negotiate with the Demon Lord on equal grounds. However, something happened, something that defied all logic and persuaded the Demon lord of Envy to give a verdict that he otherwise wouldn't.

Arctaurus was there, he saw it happen with his own eyes. The suffocating pressure he had felt when the Demon Earl, had walked into the centre of the grand hall.

The atmosphere had shifted then, not just because of the Demon Earl's audacity in claiming the Ghastly Winding Forest, but because of the strange and overwhelming power he carried with him.

The entire gathering had fallen into a deathly silence as the Demon Earl stood before the assembly. Only he spoke during that time. And it wasn't just his presence that unsettled everyone—it was the allies that the Demon Earl had unexpectedly rallied to his side.

Oswell, the young Demon Duke, whose meteoric rise had shaken the foundations of demon society. Less than three hundred years old and already with a [S] tier dungeon to his name, Oswell was a prodigy the likes of which the Demon Continent hadn't seen in a long long years.

The fact that such a figure would align himself with the Demon Earl was shocking enough, but it wasn't just Oswell.

Marchosias, an ancient and fearsome warrior of the past whose powers could only be described as legendary, had emerged out of nowhere to stand with the Demon Earl.

For someone of her stature to take a side in such a political affair was practically unheard of. Her presence alone had been enough to silence any dissent from the lower-ranked demons. Her siding with the Demon Earl had sealed his bid for the Ghastly Winding Forest.

Another abnormality that no one could have predicted.

Is it because of these reasons that he was furious? Why he feels so much discontent to the point of spouting blood right now after hearing the name Ghastly Winding Forest come out?

No, what truly boiled his blood was what had happened next in the Hexennacht—his own personal humiliation.

In the heat of the fateful Hexennacht, Avrox came to him with a suggestion. Finding it excellent, he immediately rode on that idea and challenged the Demon Earl.

 He had been confident—why wouldn't he be? Avrox had fed him information that made Simon seem like a novice, and despite the allies standing beside the Demon Earl, Arctaurus believed his power and status would be enough to tilt the scales.

He had proposed a Ritual of the Blades, a sacred combat that allowed for no outside interference. It was a centuries-old tradition, its rules absolute.

 In such a duel, two demons would pit their chosen champions against each other, with no aid from allies or they themselves. The winner would claim victory not just over their foe, but over the matter at hand—in this case, the ownership of the Ghastly Winding Forest.

Arctaurus at that time believed this to be the perfect solution. In this one-on-one contest, the Demon Earl would have to stand on his own without Oswell, Marchosias, or any other ally.

He had expected to crush the Demon Earl easily, showing the entire assembly his superiority and the power he amassed. After all, how could someone like that ant, a mere Demon Earl, hope to stand against the might of a seasoned Demon Duke?

But what had followed... it was an utter disaster.

He sent out his trump card, his most powerful summon, the [A] rank Giga Minotaurus, Minos. The latter had served him loyally for years, a combatant whose strength was unmatched in his domain.

Confident, he had watched from the sidelines, expecting an easy victory. But Simon's champion had been unlike anything Ragnarok had expected.

The Demon Earl sent forth a little girl as his champion. Further assured of his victory he laughed only to stand rooted in the events that followed next. Nôv(el)B\\jnn

 The duel had been swift—brutal, even. In a matter of moments, his champion was overwhelmed, beaten, and then, in an act of sheer humiliation, stolen away from him.

Not only had his warrior been defeated, but he had been claimed by the Demon Earl's side, as per the rules of the sacred duel. To lose a duel was one thing, but to have his own champion taken from him in front of the entire assembly—it was a face-slapping insult that cut deep into Arctaurus' pride.

"That bastard, don't tell me he used some kind of trick in the Ritual of the Blades"

 He muttered in a low voice. However, it was loud enough for everyone in the hall the hear.

They were all present in the last Hexennacht or had heard it from rumours how the Demon Duke of Wildlands was defeated and his champion stolen by an upstart Demon Earl. If there was anyone who held a massive grudge against the latter, it would be him.

"Gelford you bastard, so you were trying to claim the forest behind my back" Arctaurus turned to face Gelford with a grim look in his eyes.

Now that the cat was out of the bag, Gelford felt no need to hide this fact. He nodded his head and openly accepted that he was trying to claim the territory for himself. On that fact, he made many plans to defeat the many obstacles standing in his way.

"Gelford you bastard, so you were trying to claim the forest behind my back" Arctaurus turned to face Gelford with a grim look in his eyes.

Now that the cat was out of the bag, Gelford felt no need to hide this fact. He nodded his head and openly accepted that he was trying to claim the territory for himself. On that fact, he made many plans to defeat the many obstacles standing in his way.

"So how goes your plan?" Arctaurus questioned.

"It is as you heard, it was a complete failure"…

The room fell into silence as everyone had a pondering look on their face.

"We need to do something about that Demon Earl, don't tell me that you will take this defeat lying down?"…

 "Do you think manipulating the black ogre clan was easy? You don't know how much length I had to go so that Orge King wouldn't notice me. I tried and employed all my resources to make the black ogre clan stronger. However, they still failed me in the end"

Gelford clicked his tongue.