Chapter 95: True Warrior

Chapter 95: Chapter 95: True Warrior

"I don’t know, but that is indeed what the enemy said, meow." Alicia kept her eyes fixed on Shen Yun. Seeing that he was merely surprised rather than afraid, she visibly breathed a sigh of relief. "Seven days ago, the Great Saint of the Ibi Empire suddenly came to our territory and delivered a death sentence from the Demon King, meow... Ten days from then, they will completely exterminate us. Now, only three days remain, meow."

Naturally, her first instinct had been to seek help from the Non-human Alliance. However, controlled by the Elves and the Winged Race, the Alliance was completely incapable of coming up with a viable plan in the Great Saint’s absence. They offered nothing but empty consolations and even suggested that the catfolk scatter and flee.

That was why she had resolutely decided to come seek help upon hearing that a powerful prince had emerged in Violet. She just hadn’t expected to run straight into the retreating Paladins on her way.

"A death sentence from the Demon King..." Shen Yun murmured.

This was indeed the Demon King’s style from eight hundred years ago when he wreaked havoc across the land. Instead of resorting to outright slaughter, he would first issue a declaration, leaving time for his victims to struggle. He relished their agony, finding joy in delivering their ultimate destruction.

He wondered why the target wasn’t Violet. Shen Yun had always believed that if the Demon King truly existed and possessed immense power, he would immediately attack Violet. After all, they had already established a Demon Subjugation Army here. But instead, the enemy had gone to bully the northern non-human races who had lost their Great Saint. Was the Ibi Empire just using the Demon King’s name to throw their weight around? Or was the Demon King simply picking on the weak?

"We have no other options left, meow." Alicia remained prostrate on the ground, her head bowed deeply. "After hearing of your deeds, I knew you must be a benevolent and mighty expert. We do not dare beg for your mercy, but we are willing to pay any price for a chance at our race’s survival."

Originally, even without a Great Saint, the current number of Saint Realm experts in the Non-human Alliance might still have stood a chance in battle. But the catfolk had been abandoned. Perhaps the Alliance wanted to use their fate to test the Demon King’s true strength, or perhaps they felt there was no hope of victory. Regardless of the reason, not a single Saint Realm expert was willing to step forward and help.

When a crisis loomed, every race only looked out for their own survival.

"I can’t... make you too many promises right now, but the Demon King is indeed our enemy," Shen Yun said, offering what little reassurance he could. "Focus on recovering from your injuries for now. We will discuss the matter."

With that, he stood up and walked outside. Vierlia followed closely behind. She stood silently by his side without saying a word.

After a long while, Shen Yun finally sighed. "I can’t figure it out at all."

He couldn’t understand the point of the death sentence. If the Demon King was truly powerful enough to issue a death sentence like he did eight hundred years ago, logic dictated that he should be attacking Violet. If he wasn’t that strong, then this was very likely a trap. Anyone with half a brain would have anticipated the possibility of the catfolk coming to Violet for help.

Vierlia remained silent. She knew Shen Yun could deduce anything she could think of; she only needed to wait for his final decision. Offering her unconditional support was enough.

"Speaking of which, the dissemination of information in your world is truly archaic," Shen Yun said, turning his head in exasperation. "An incident from a week ago, and there hasn’t been a single piece of news about it until now."

The Demon King issuing a death sentence should have been a monumental event. If they hadn’t decided to clear out their rearguard first, they might have missed this entirely.

"It’s my fault." Vierlia pursed her lips, looking somewhat distressed. "The Ibi Empire has also begun strict internal control. It’s incredibly difficult for information to pass through via traditional methods."

"I’m not blaming you... If that’s the case, we have no choice but to use that method..." Shen Yun sighed. He originally hadn’t wanted to use it, but given the current situation, it was their only option.

They had to use the Bronze Hall.

The Bronze Hall was originally just a passage connecting worlds, but now that it could facilitate rapid global transit, its nature had completely changed. It could be used as a means of transportation—the fastest one in existence.

"In that case..." Vierlia gently cradled Shen Yun’s hand and pressed it to her chest. "I will fight by your side."

"Yes, I’ll leave the control of the Bronze Hall to you. We absolutely cannot let the Demon King discover it," Shen Yun cautioned with a nod.

On the other side of the Bronze Hall was Shen Yun’s homeland. If the Demon King managed to charge inside before they initiated the transfer, the consequences would be unimaginable. However, deciding to use the Bronze Hall also brought tremendous advantages.

"Dispatch five Saint Realm experts to accompany Alicia back to the catfolk’s territory," Shen Yun decisively ordered. "Xiaojie and I will take a trip to the Ibi Empire on the eve of the death sentence’s deadline. Their emperor definitely knows something."

His original plan had been to visit the Holy Hall first. But looking at things now, the Great Saint of the Ibi Empire was already acting as an envoy for the Demon King, spreading his death sentence. It made sense to make the Ibi Empire their first target. Thanks to the Bronze Hall, they could travel anywhere in the world in the blink of an eye anyway.

The next day, having recovered slightly, the catgirl Alicia immediately prepared to depart alongside the five Saint Realm experts Violet had provided for support.

"I will arrive tomorrow," Shen Yun promised.

"Your Highness, I believe you, meow." Alicia bowed her head respectfully. "In truth, seeking your help equates to our catfolk betraying the Non-human Alliance. From now on, the catfolk are your subjects, and my daughter will be sent to serve by your side as our representative, meow."

Shen Yun was momentarily speechless. He hadn’t realized this catgirl was married and already had a daughter. A little catgirl? What use would that be to him? His preference lay with cat-eared girls, not entirely furry catgirls.

"I already have a maid by my side, but placing her with Vierlia will serve the same purpose." Smiling, Shen Yun decisively pushed the responsibility onto Vierlia.

"As... as you wish, meow." Alicia had completely placed herself in the role of a subordinate. Offering the matriarch’s daughter was a symbol of submission among the non-human races. As long as Shen Yun accepted, he could make any arrangements he pleased.

"Do you really not want her?" Vierlia turned to Shen Yun after Alicia had left, covering her mouth with a laugh. "Matriarch Alicia’s daughter is quite famous. I think you might actually like her."

"Having Xiaojiu by my side is enough." Shen Yun shook his head slightly.

"Is that so?" Vierlia’s eyes suddenly narrowed. "Do you know why Matriarch Alicia’s daughter is famous?"

"Hm?"

"Because she’s a half-blood—a mix between a human and a beastman. Furthermore, she’s the exceedingly rare offspring of two Saint Realm experts." Vierlia looked slightly ashamed when mentioning her mixed heritage.

The union between humans and beastmen had a certain chance of producing stunningly beautiful Half-Beastmen, beings who possessed human facial features alongside partial beastman characteristics. However, this was not a pleasant topic. The practice of capturing beastmen, artificially breeding half-bloods, and then selling them as slaves was a dark reality. Having visited Shen Yun’s world, Vierlia naturally understood just how reprehensible such an industry was in the eyes of modern civilization.

"Since she has a human Saint Realm expert for a parent, why didn’t they ask him to come over?" Shen Yun truly had no idea about this.

"Because he has already fallen. The war was fierce back then, and he was ambushed and killed by the Ibi Empire after being branded a traitor," Vierlia explained. She herself had still been very young at the time.

"He was a true warrior," Shen Yun sighed. "In every sense of the word."