Chapter 1151: The Demon and The Sorcerer [Part 1]

Chapter 1151 – The Demon and The Sorcerer [Part 1]

Two hours had passed.

The helicopter cut across the morning sky, its rotors beating a relentless rhythm above an endless sea of green.

Lux sat comfortably in the rear cabin, one ankle resting over the opposite knee, looking far too relaxed for a man currently traveling toward one of an immortal king’s secret prisons.

The helicopter belonged to Naomi’s family.

More accurately, Mr. Delacour had practically shoved transportation privileges at Lux as thanks for his earlier help. Cars, helicopters, pilots, whatever he needed.

Lux had accepted.

Greed did not reject useful assets offered voluntarily.

That would be rude.

And financially irresponsible.

He was currently in his humanoid form, dressed in a fitted black suit with the jacket open. Runa occupied his lap in cat form, her furry body curled against his stomach while her tail flicked with increasing irritation.

Lux absently stroked behind her ears.

She purred.

Her tail continued attacking his thigh.

Mixed signals.

The pilot and copilot had received extremely simple instructions before departure.

Whatever they saw today, they would forget.

No questions.

No photographs.

No stories over drinks.

No heroic attempts to return for Lux afterward.

Mr. Delacour had apparently emphasized those instructions himself.

So far, both men had demonstrated excellent survival instincts.

Below them stretched wilderness.

Forest.

More forest.

Then, for variety... Forest.

Dark green treetops rolled toward distant mountains, broken occasionally by steep cliffs and narrow rivers glittering beneath the sunlight. There were no towns. No roads. No farms.

Nothing suggesting civilization had ever bothered coming here.

Which was precisely why Lux disliked it.

Places that looked like nothing usually contained something.

Especially when Kaelmor was involved.

Lux leaned toward the window. "The location should be around here."

A translucent map appeared beside his face.

One crimson dot pulsed.

Their helicopter passed almost directly above it.

Yet Lux saw nothing. "Interesting."

[Perhaps His Majesty concealed his secret prison.]

"No shit."

[I merely wished to ensure you had considered this revolutionary possibility.]

Lux narrowed his eyes at the screen.

Runa gave a tiny feline chirp that suspiciously resembled amusement.

"You’re siding with him?"

"Meow."

"Traitor."

The helicopter banked slightly.

Lux continued watching the forest.

Dense trees concealed everything beneath their canopy. Even from this altitude, identifying a structure would be difficult.

Which was probably intentional.

Kaelmor wasn’t stupid.

Paranoid, theatrical, possessive, power-hungry and apparently suffering from a severe allergy to ethical governance?

Certainly.

Stupid?

Unfortunately not.

The copilot suddenly leaned forward. "Mr. Vaelthorn."

Lux looked up.

The man pointed through the windshield. "About two o’clock. Near that mountain ridge. I thought I saw something between the trees."

Lux shifted toward the opposite window.

At first...

Nothing.

Then sunlight struck something unnatural.

Stone.

A corner.

Barely visible between enormous trees.

Lux opened the system map.

The crimson dot hovered almost directly over the position.

"System."

[Yes, sir.]

"Is that our location?"

A brief scan passed over the display.

[Coordinates confirmed.]

[Probability of target identification: 99.7%.]

[The remaining 0.3% has been reserved for divine comedy.]

Lux closed the screen. "Good."

He looked toward the cockpit.

"Thank you for your work. Go back and report to Mr. Delacour that you completed the assignment."

The pilot nodded automatically. "Understood, sir. Where should we land?"

"Nowhere."

Lux unfastened his seat belt.

-Click!

The copilot looked back.

"Sir?"

Lux stood.

Runa immediately climbed into his arms.

The copilot’s face changed. "Wait."

Lux walked toward the side door.

"Mr. Vaelthorn, we’re still—"

Lux pulled it open.

Wind exploded into the cabin.

His hair whipped backward. His jacket snapped violently around him as cold mountain air flooded inside.

The copilot stared at him in horror. "Mr. Vaelthorn, that’s dangerous!"

Lux glanced over his shoulder. "Just go."

"But—"

"And don’t come looking for me."

The casual warmth disappeared from Lux’s expression. His red eyes sharpened. "If you come back for me..." A smile touched his lips. "I’ll kill you."

Silence.

The copilot slowly closed his mouth.

Excellent.

Clear communication solved so many workplace problems.

Lux stepped backward into empty air.

And fell.

The helicopter vanished above him.

Wind roared past his ears.

His stomach lifted as gravity seized him, dragging him toward the forest hundreds of meters below.

Runa remained tucked securely against his chest.

She looked down.

Then up at him.

"Meow?"

"What?"

"MEOW!"

"We’re fine."

The ground rushed closer.

Lux’s gaze locked onto the structure hidden beneath the trees.

An abandoned fortress.

At least, it wanted to look abandoned.

Ancient stone walls disappeared beneath vines. Moss covered the battlements. Several towers had partially collapsed, while trees grew dangerously close to the outer walls.

No road led toward it.

Dead.

Forgotten.

Perfect.

Lux smiled. "Demonic Form."

Black energy erupted around him.

His horns emerged first.

Then his wings exploded outward with a violent WHUMP, catching the air and instantly slowing his fall.

A long tail unfurled behind him.

His tailored suit dissolved beneath crawling darkness.

Armor replaced it.

Black plates formed over his chest and shoulders, edged with deep crimson lines that pulsed like restrained fire. Gauntlets enclosed his hands. Greaves locked around his legs.

No camouflage.

No subtle mortal clothing.

No pretending.

Not today.

[You have abandoned stealth.]

"I noticed."

[Shall I remove it from the operational plan?]

"Leave it."

Lux folded his wings.

He shot forward.

Trees blurred beneath him.

The fortress grew larger.

Its central courtyard was completely overgrown, but Lux immediately noticed the wards shimmering faintly beneath the stonework.

There.

Definitely royal work.

He descended.

His armored boots struck the courtyard.

Dust jumped.

Dead leaves scattered outward.

Runa leaped from his arms.

Magic rippled over her.

Her feline body stretched upward, limbs reforming, fur withdrawing until her humanoid form stood beside him.

Her ears remained.

So did her tail.

But the cute little cat who had slept on his face that morning?

Gone.

Completely.

Runa stared at the fortress.

Her eyes were cold.

Her fists clenched.

Lux watched her carefully.

He knew that expression.

Anger had been sitting inside her ever since they began talking about Kaelmor’s hidden prisons.

Not loud anger.

Worse.

The kind compressed by years.