Chapter 555: The D Day

Ministers, officials and soldiers stood in formation outside the palace, their ceremonial attire arranged with almost obsessive precision as they waited beneath the morning sky. Several carriages drawn by enormous white foxes were lined up beside the palace steps, their polished frames decorated with violet banners bearing the emblem of the Fox Prince.

The Royal Guard stood along both sides of the path, weapons secured at their waists and backs, while the assembled nobles maintained a tense silence.

Everyone understood the significance of today. This was not merely a coronation. It was the day Damian would publicly establish himself as the unquestioned ruler of Velmora, and if the rumors were true, it was also the day Prince Hagrid of Gildreach would attempt to take his life.

At the very front of the formation stood Lucy, Kor and Fulgur. Lucy maintained her usual confident posture, though her eyes repeatedly wandered toward the palace doors. Kor stood beside her with his arms folded, his expression unusually serious despite the excitement burning behind his eyes.

Fulgur remained completely still, his silver hair shifting slightly in the morning breeze as he waited patiently for Damian to emerge. None of them knew exactly what Damian would look like after spending so much time cultivating.

Clank.

The palace doors finally swung open and every conversation outside died instantly.

Damian emerged from the palace at an unhurried pace, his enormous frame immediately drawing every eye toward him. He wore his signature black robes, but the garment had been specially tailored to accommodate his new height and broader physique.

Violet embroidery depicting a mighty nine tailed fox covered the edges of his sleeves and descended along the front of his robes, while a ceremonial hat rested over his long black hair, which had been gathered neatly into a bun.

The clothing was regal, restrained and unmistakably associated with Velmora, but it did little to make Damian appear less intimidating. If anything, the contrast between the elegant clothing and his unnatural appearance made him look even more imposing.

Lucy stared at him for several seconds before unconsciously lowering her voice. "He’s... He’s as big as the Prince of Aurelios now... Is this even normal? He’s meant to be a demigod." Her words carried genuine disbelief.

Kor’s eyes practically lit up as he looked Damian over from head to toe. "Didn’t they say he was hurt? He looks more like he’s going to hurt somebody."

There was genuine excitement in his voice, and Lucy immediately glanced at him as though wondering whether he understood the seriousness of what was happening.

Behind them, the ministers and officials were considerably less enthusiastic. Those who knew nothing about the Abyss could not sense any demonic force from Damian at all. That absence bothered them more than a powerful aura ever could.

Damian’s body looked like that of an ancient monster, yet his presence was strangely empty, almost as though there was nothing inside him for their senses to grasp. Several ministers exchanged uneasy glances, unwilling to be the first to admit that they were frightened.

Donatello Strawman swallowed quietly while staring at Damian. "Is he a God or a demigod? I can’t tell... And the fact that he has all these intimidating features and no presence makes him even scarier. Like, I would rather have a God stare me down because at least I know what to expect. With this one I don’t even know if he wants to kill me or not."

The officials around him silently nodded, each of them apparently sharing the same concern. Damian’s expression gave them absolutely nothing to work with.

While the ministers remained unsettled, Jugo noticed something that immediately caught his attention. His gaze shifted toward the seven women following behind Damian, and his eyes widened when he recognized their ceremonial clothing.

All seven were dressed in white and purple robes, with matching headgear that clearly distinguished their status from a formal royal marriage. They were being inducted into Damian’s household as concubines, not wives.

Jugo’s face brightened. "He’s not marrying those three witches? Thank God this Prince has some sense... It’s good to see he cannot be held down by Lin Qui’s shadow." His voice remained low, but the satisfaction in it was unmistakable.

Talos and Kan followed his gaze, and both men quickly understood what this meant. If Damian had not designated those three women as his wives, then the position of Queen remained open. The other women had an opportunity to rise through the hierarchy, and with them came the possibility that their respective families could become part of the new political foundation of Velmora.

Talos’ eyes narrowed with satisfaction as he watched Mary standing among the other women. "Knowing how smart my girl is, I’m certain my Blood Demon clan will definitely secure a spot as one of the queens of Velmora. Hahahaha. We must protect this Prince at all cost. He must make it through today alive." His excitement was barely contained.

Kan nodded firmly. "My little girl, Rah, has a place in his heart. With a little hard work she can secure the future of our clan under this great Prince. I’ll give my life to protect this Prince and that future."

His declaration was quiet, but Talos heard every word and gave him an approving glance.

As the murmurs continued throughout the formation, Fulgur finally stepped forward. He placed his hands together before lowering himself onto both knees, carefully planting his forehead against the ground. The movement immediately silenced everyone around him.

"May your Majesty live for ten thousand years!"

Every person present immediately followed his example. Soldiers dropped to their knees, ministers lowered their heads, officials pressed their foreheads toward the ground, and the seven women behind Damian followed the ceremony without hesitation.

"MAY YOUR MAJESTY LIVE FOR TEN THOUSAND YEARS!"

The unified declaration echoed across the palace grounds.

Damian stood silently before them, looking down at the countless people bowing in front of him. He knew there was a possibility that this would be the last time he ever see them.

His gaze slowly shifted toward the palace behind him.

Malachi and Shin were still kneeling near the entrance, but unlike everyone else, they were not looking at the ground. Their worried eyes remained fixed on Damian’s back. They were trying to hide it, but Damian could feel their concern even from several steps away.

A small smile appeared on his face.

’At least now you know someone will cry if you die... You have to give it your all!’ Rin said inwardly.

Damian did not respond. He simply turned around and walked back toward the palace.

Malachi and Shin immediately lifted their heads in confusion as Damian approached them. He crouched down between the two disciples, and opened his palm. A dagger slowly spun into existence above it before settling neatly into his hand.

"This is Weeping Tom... A weapon forged out of the pain of seven demigods... I’ll leave it with you as a parting gift." Damian passed it toward Malachi.

Malachi hesitated when he realized what the weapon was made from. The thought of holding something forged through the deaths of other demons made his fingers tremble slightly, but Damian was the one offering it to him. After a moment of hesitation, he accepted the dagger with both hands.

"Master..." Shin muttered softly.

Damian reached over and patted him gently on the head before rising to his feet, once again towering over both disciples. "Don’t worry about me. Your master is the strongest there is and there will ever be."

His declaration was bold enough to make both boys smile despite the fear they had been trying to hide.

Damian turned dramatically, his robes fluttering in the wind as he walked away. Behind him, Malachi and Shin bowed once more, their expressions becoming serious as they watched their master disappear toward the waiting carriage.

Damian followed William toward the carriage prepared for him that morning. Unlike the enclosed carriages used by most of the officials, his was completely open at the top, resembling a luxurious convertible from Earth. Its frame was reinforced with demonic materials and decorated with the crest of Velmora, while several white foxes waited patiently at the front.

Without saying a word, Damian climbed inside. William took the seat beside him, while Lucy and Kor sat opposite them. Only after Damian had settled in did the other ministers and officials begin entering their respective carriages, the entire procession slowly preparing to move toward the city square.

As the carriage began rolling forward, Damian lowered his gaze toward his wrapped arm. Most of the burns left behind by Dantalion’s attack had healed, but several patches of damaged skin remained visible between the bandages. He would probably need another week or two of constant vitality recovery to completely restore the remaining damage.

"Truly, the healing technique exclusive to your inheritance is amazing." William attempted to start a conversation as the procession moved away from the palace. "Most people would never be able to recover from injuries like that."

Damian shrugged indifferently. "Unfortunately, it is not enough to heal a damaged soul."

The words immediately changed the atmosphere inside the carriage. Lucy and Kor exchanged a brief glance while William’s expression became more solemn. Nobody needed to ask what Damian meant. They all knew what waited for him at the end of the road.

Rin settled comfortably onto Damian’s shoulder before speaking casually. "Well, since you gain vitality from constant sex with your partners, it does nearly stop your aging. If you quit everything now and focus on sex alone, you will be near immortal. But I’m sure you won’t do that."

The three people sitting across from Damian stared at him, waiting for his response. As expected, Damian simply shrugged.

"If I abandon everything and focus solely on sex, how am I supposed to claim the universe for myself?" Damian rolled his eyes. "I’ll consider that option after I have consolidated my reign across the universe and have nothing else to bother about."

Rin gave a small shrug. "Tch."

Damian shifted his attention toward Kor, whose injuries were still visible despite the healing he had received. His expression immediately became more serious.

"You haven’t fully recovered, yet you are here? Are you that eager to die?" Damian asked.

Kor smiled bitterly and shook his head. "That’s not it, sire. Regardless of my condition, when faced with a grave threat like a God, it’s my duty to stand by your side. Even if I can only take one hit for you, I will be satisfied."

Damian frowned and leaned back, crossing his arms over his chest. "When the fighting starts, don’t get anywhere close to me. I’ll handle the Prince of Gildreach myself. Just make sure nothing interrupts our battle."

"Understood!" Kor replied with a light bow.

Damian nodded before releasing a long sigh and closing his eyes. The carriage continued toward the palace gates, surrounded by soldiers and officials who were preparing for the most important ceremony Velmora had witnessed in generations.