Chapter 160: Afraid of Demons? Terrified of Evil Gods? Just What—Do You Take This Demon Lord For!?

Translation by: Weebsread👹

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"You dare lay a hand on me—a Duke of the Empire!?"

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A sudden eruption of sacred radiance slammed into Duke Ous with merciless force.

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The hastily conjured red barrier around him shattered instantly beneath the onslaught.

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Duke Ous had never truly believed the other man would try to kill him. Disbelief filled his eyes as the blast sent him reeling, shock vibrating through every bone.

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Had he not been on guard, an Ultimate-level powerhouse, that single strike could have left him dead or crippled.

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"You thought I was bluffing?"

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With each word, more Holy Light gathered behind Lin Wei, cascading forward in a relentless, rain-like barrage.

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This was no elegant duel—just raw, unyielding power, hammered at the enemy with brutal finality.

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Explosions ripped through the chamber, reducing its ornate furnishings to heaps of shattered debris.

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Duke Ous, his face twisted in fury, could only scramble to maintain his defenses as the onslaught battered his barrier again and again. The relentless detonations left him staggering, barely able to keep up.

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"I am a Duke of the Empire! You dare execute me without evidence?"

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"The Empire will never let this stand! They won’t watch in silence as a Duke is murdered in the Tribunal!"

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His roar rattled the very walls, echoing through the collapsing chamber as the explosions tore the place apart.

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"I know all that," Lin Wei replied, voice calm.

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In moments, the storm of Holy Light Bolts faded.

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Then, in a blur, Lin Wei surged forward, wreathed in sacred power.

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No flourish—just a simple, devastating punch.

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It crashed through Ous’s barrier and smashed directly into his jaw.

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"AAAH!"

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The Duke’s corpulent body flew like a ragdoll, slamming into the crumbling wall and bringing it down in a cascade of debris.

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Pain exploded through him, every nerve screaming.

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Only now, sprawled and stunned, did Duke Ous truly grasp what was happening.

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This wasn’t a warning. The bastard meant every word.

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He’s really going to kill me—right here, right now!

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His mind raced, searching for a lifeline. The evidence could be fabricated after he was dead. The massacre had already been splashed across the newspapers.

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The Empire... The Empire would know soon enough.

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That’s it! I see what this little bastard is planning!

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"You... you’re trying to kill me before the Empire’s people arrive!"

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"Skip the trial—leave no witnesses!"

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Suddenly, a crimson light crashed down from above, cutting through the sacred radiance and enveloping Duke Ous.

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It was that same shadow Lin Wei had glimpsed during the arrest—a burly, sharp-eyed phantom, emerging with an aura that seemed to pierce all illusions.

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The Randall family had been minor nobles on the northern border for generations—mere Viscounts, impoverished after the demon invasions, forced to migrate just to survive.

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Until that fateful night at a noble banquet, when the Empire’s Queen of Thorns took notice of the nervous, well-mannered young lord from the border.

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From that moment, with the Queen’s favor, the Randall family ascended at a staggering pace.

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Their patriarch even inherited a share of the Royal Bloodline Inheritance, passing it on to his descendants.

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Four centuries later, his name remained—less as a hero, more as the patriarch who saved his house.

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His name... Nita the Noble.

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BOOM—

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A surge of unique power exploded from Duke Ous, the phantom merging with him, as if the legendary ancestor himself had returned through the ages.

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"Oh? Not bad. You figured it out."

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"Smart. Very smart."

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Lin Wei nodded approvingly, as if indulging a clever child, then studied the power before him with detached interest.

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Unlike the Limit-breakers he’d fought before, Duke Ous’s strength truly had soared after breaking through. Yet there was something generic about this so-called legacy—no unique Authority, no singular feature, just raw amplification.

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So this was the Bloodline Inheritance of the imperial nobles?

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It was nothing like the overwhelming presence of the Peer of the Empire he’d once bested on the battlefield.

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"Interesting. But even the assassins you sent after me—I killed them without breaking a sweat."

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"You really think you’re walking out of here alive?"

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"Try me, you bastard!"

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The violence shaking the Tribunal quickly drew the patrolling Knights of Judgment.

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Vice Commander Guga of the Holy See was the first through the doors, leading his order into the chaos.

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He took in the devastated Tribunal and the Duke, already transformed into his Limit Form, and immediately signaled his knights to focus on the suspect before turning to Lin Wei.

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"Mr. Lin Wei, what is the meaning of this?"

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"Simple," Lin Wei replied coolly. "The criminal, Duke Ous, realized his crimes were exposed and tried to attack me before fleeing in panic."

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"Vice Commander Guga, help me surround the Tribunal. Don’t let him escape!"

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We can’t let this drag on any longer.

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Sacred energy surged through the air, clergy converged from all sides, and Duke Ous—his face still swelling from Lin Wei’s punch—stood in Limit Form, glaring with rage.

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But for all his fury, he didn’t dare move first.

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Lin Wei wouldn’t dare execute me here, not alone. If he tries, that means the whole Holy See is in on it—they want me dead before the Empire’s people arrive.

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Would the Holy See really risk war with the Empire?

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Especially under Selena, the supposedly weak Pope, who now showed such ruthless resolve. Was it all an act? Had she planned to kill him and make an example from the start?

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Damn woman!

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If his crimes were truly publicized in the newspapers, the Empire would send people soon. He just had to hold out until the High Council convened for judgment. No matter his sins, as long as he wasn’t a traitor, a Duke would never be executed.

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I can’t stay here!

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BANG!

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A crimson blast punched straight through the Tribunal’s roof.

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Duke Ous, who a moment before looked ready to fight to the death, now bolted with every ounce of strength, vanishing in a heartbeat.

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"After him!"

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Whether he was fleeing in guilt mattered little now.

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A brawl like this, right in the Tribunal, with a Pope-appointed investigator—whatever the truth, they had to bring the Duke back.

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From Vice Commander Guga’s perspective, if they could kill such a corrupt noble on the spot, so much the better.

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He must not be allowed to escape to the Imperial Capital!

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"No need to rush, Vice Commander Guga."

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Lin Wei, all business a moment ago, now relaxed, his tone lazy.

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Guga frowned, confused, but Lin Wei continued, almost cheerfully:

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"Since he wants to run, let’s make a spectacle of it."

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"Take your knights to the Imperial Capital. Make a big scene—search for Duke Ous, let everyone know he fled in disgrace, attacked a clergy member, and that there may be Cult of the Evil God agents waiting to aid him. Get the whole city talking, understand?"

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The message couldn’t be clearer.

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Guga stared, dumbfounded—Lin Wei was openly declaring Duke Ous a dead man, destroying his reputation for good.

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If the Duke survived, the Empire could try to clear his name. But if he didn’t...

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"I’ll have the Judgment Knights handle it at once."

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"As for Duke Ous, I’ll stay and help you hunt him down!"

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But Lin Wei shook his head, cutting him off.

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"No. You need to go to the Capital with the Judgment Knights. If I let Ous slip away, you’ll be the second line of defense to intercept him. And if Empire reinforcements arrive, you’re the only one who can hold them off."

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"Leave the chase to me. Trust me—I have a plan."

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"The mission in the Capital is more important, and only you can do it!"

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It sounded risky, but Lin Wei had never failed since they’d met. If the Pope trusted him, that was enough.

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"I understand!"

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Duke Ous was already gone—there was no time to argue. Guga nodded firmly, placing his trust in Lin Wei.

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"Then I’ll leave Ous to you. I’m heading for the Capital—good luck!"

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With that, the Knights set off, leaving only a handful of clergy to clean up the ruins—a testament to the chaos just unleashed.

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"Finally... got you out of the Tribunal."

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Lin Wei stretched, eyes fixed on the horizon. A smile curled across his lips, impossible to hide.

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Ous didn’t stand a chance. With his monstrous Level 100 stats, killing him outright would be child’s play.

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But unlike Fred or Carlos, who’d barely inherited their Legacies and were only around Level 80, Ous was clearly stronger—a straight execution would be too simple.

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Besides, there were still questions that needed answers.

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"Looks like he went this way."

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Outside the Holy See, Lin Wei could finally unleash his power without restraint.

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With a clap of his hands and a surge of mana, he shot into the sky, vanishing in a streak of light.

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◇

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"Damn it... those bastards from the Holy See actually dared to attack me!"

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"To execute a Duke without trial—have they forgotten the justice of Alicia herself!?"

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The Holy See and the Empire were less than three kilometers apart.

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Blazing across the sky, Duke Ous didn’t head straight for the city. Instead, he arced wide, aiming for the side closest to the Palace, careful to avoid any ambushes.

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His anger simmered—Lin Wei and the Knights of Judgment had pushed him this far, and even now, after finally using his Bloodline Inheritance, he was forced to run for his life. The humiliation was unbearable.

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But there was no other choice.

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"The Holy See is hell-bent on killing me here."

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"If I stay, even if I tear that bastard Lin Wei to pieces, I’ll be swarmed by the clergy."

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He would have to swallow this rage for now.

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Once he reached the Palace and met with Duke Meyer, they’d find a way to fix this. As for that little upstart... Ous would make him pay dearly for this humiliation.

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"Three more minutes and I’ll be at the Palace."

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The red aura around him sped along the city’s edge, careful not to attract the attention of other Apex Transcendents among the nobles.

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No pursuit behind him—he’d escaped cleanly.

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"Once I’m back in the Capital, I’ll make you pay for this."

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No wonder the Griffin Duke valued him so highly, even marrying off his own daughter—Lin Wei really was something else. But where had this monster come from?

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Hmm?

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Just then, a figure materialized in the sky, halting Ous in his tracks.

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He stared, wide-eyed, as if he’d seen a ghost.

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"This... How is this possible!?"

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"Oh? There you are. I was starting to get bored waiting."

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It was that same, infuriatingly familiar face—the one he’d just seen in the Tribunal minutes ago.

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Lin Wei yawned, stretching as if impatient, then cracked his knuckles, his smile warm but his tone sending chills down Ous’s spine.

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"So, what do you think? The Holy See really is generous, isn’t it? Gave you a few minutes of freedom—aren’t you grateful to Pope Selena and my own mercy?"

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"Lin Wei!? How did you get here!?"

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He’d fled first, felt no pursuit at all—how the hell had this bastard gotten ahead of him?

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Ous’s face stiffened with terror. There was no aura, no sign of Limit Form from Lin Wei at all.

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How did he do it!?

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"Strange question. I’m here to keep you from escaping into the Capital, obviously."

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"I have some questions—about your demon collaborators. Answer, and maybe I’ll let you die quickly."

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"Let me die quickly? Hahahaha!"

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No ambushes, no clergy in sight.

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Ous burst out laughing, the anger he’d bottled up finally finding a target as he hurled himself at Lin Wei.

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Red light surged, power exploding from him as he howled in rage, teetering on the edge of madness.

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"You think you—little shit—can kill me alone!?"

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You were afraid to fight in the Holy See, afraid the clergy would intervene—but here, it’s just you and me.

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You really think you can match a Duke in his Limit Form on his own turf?

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The closer you get to the Capital, the stronger an Imperial noble’s Legacy becomes. This was Ous’s domain, and Lin Wei hadn’t even revealed his own Limit Form!

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No way in hell would he give him the chance.

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Ous’s face twisted in a snarl as he closed in—he’d show this brat what real close-quarters power looked like. Even if Lin Wei was hiding strength, he’d never get the chance to use it.

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This was the gulf between them.

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"Die!"

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All his energy condensed into a crimson aura, wrapping him completely.

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No defense, no wasted motion—he simply hovered, waiting for Lin Wei’s response.

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Ous roared, his punch splitting the air with a sonic boom, aiming to smash Lin Wei’s face to pulp.

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"So stubborn..."

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Lin Wei sighed, his tone almost weary.

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Suddenly, Ous’s arm—wreathed in red light—went limp, dropping uselessly to his side.

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It wasn’t blocked or restrained. It simply... stopped working. All sensation vanished.

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Ous stared in horror as his attack fizzled, the energy leaking away, blood spurting from the useless limb.

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Before he could react, Lin Wei drove a knee into his gut, sending the massive Duke hurtling toward the ground at terrifying speed.

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SPLAT! "AAAGH!"

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He crashed, carving a crater into the earth.

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Agony wracked his body—blood gushed from his ruined arm, his bones felt shattered, and his mind began to blur.

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He hadn’t suffered wounds this bad since becoming a Duke.

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And now—now, it was all from a single, seemingly casual blow from this boy.

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"Impossible..."

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"I’m... I’m an Ultimate-level powerhouse!"

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"I’m a Duke of the Empire! How could I be brought down by a peasant like you!?"

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His Legacy’s energy shattered with a single blow.

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He’d never imagined such a thing possible, but here it was.

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He’d thought Lin Wei a mere bug, easy to crush. But now, he was the one squirming on the ground.

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"A Duke of the Empire... is that supposed to impress me?"

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"I've killed so many of your kind I’ve lost count—maybe not hundreds, but dozens, easily. And among them, you wouldn’t even be worth carrying their shoes."

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Your so-called Legacy is interesting, but honestly? Pathetically weak.

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Lin Wei lifted a hand, mana swirling as he telekinetically hoisted the helpless Duke into the air.

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"Let me make this clear: you’re not getting out of this alive."

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"Tell me who your demon collaborators are, and maybe I’ll let you die quickly."

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"Tell me about the Cult of the Evil God—what you’re plotting, where Commander Alfron is... Maybe I’ll let you die with dignity."

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His grip tightened, energy squeezing Ous’s throat. The Duke clawed at his neck, but couldn’t break free.

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Lin Wei’s voice was cold as death.

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"You get one chance. Think carefully."

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"You... you don’t want to know."

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His life was slipping away. It was a feeling beyond words, but all too real.

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His survival instincts kicked in, desperate to use his connections to buy time.

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"I don’t know where Commander Alfron is. To the Cult of the Evil God, I’m just a pawn—the real collaborators are elsewhere."

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"This plan... cough... it’s not something a nobody like you could comprehend. Defying the Imperial nobles will only bring you ruin! Let me go, and I’ll forget all this ever happened. No one has to get hurt."

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So there were others working with the Cult? Lin Wei’s eyes narrowed—he hadn’t expected that.

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"Heh. I won’t come to a bad end? Are the demons you’re working with involved too?"

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"Yes! It’s a three-way alliance—demon bigwigs are in on it as well! If I tell you any more, unless you spend the rest of your life holed up in the Holy See, the Cult will hunt you down!"

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"I see."

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So that was it—no wonder the plan was so secretive.

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"It seems the Demon Resurgence has reached the point where even Evil God curses can be issued so freely."

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"What, you think I’d be scared of that?"

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"How do you know about Evil God curses!?"

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Ous stared at him in disbelief.

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Even most priests of the Cult didn’t know the details—only that the Cult could track people, not how. Yet Lin Wei had called it by name, and even understood the current state of the Evil Gods.

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"You won’t say, because the curse would do something worse than death to you?"

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"You’d be dragged to the hells, your soul trapped in the abyss forever!"

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"So that’s why you’re trying to bargain, even now. You want to know how I found out?"

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At some point, Lin Wei had donned the Bronze Mask.

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Ous’s eyes widened—he’d never seen it in person, but the descriptions were unmistakable.

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"You... you’re..."

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The fear in his eyes was absolute.

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"Afraid of being dragged to hell by demons, your soul bound for eternity?"

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"And you try to threaten me, thinking your backers are beyond my reach?"

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BOOM!

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A wave of terror exploded from Lin Wei, the air itself shuddering.

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Forests, rivers, earth—everything nearby was ravaged, the blood-red aura turning the world into a vision of hell.

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From behind the Bronze Mask, Lin Wei’s eyes blazed crimson, as if reflecting the abyss itself.

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"Demon bigwigs? Evil God curses? Defying the nobles means certain death?"

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"Afraid of being dragged to hell by the Cult of the Evil God—and you dare threaten me?"

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"Heh... hehehe... HAHAHAHAHA!"

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He clutched his face, cackling with mad delight.

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His presence blotted out the world, plunging everything into monochrome terror. Even with barriers raised, nothing could keep out the darkness.

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All life nearby felt the urge to flee, to escape the source of this horror.

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Then Lin Wei looked down at Ous, his voice layered and inhuman, shaking the Duke to his soul.

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"Just what—do you take this Demon Lord for!?"