Chapter 1218 - 1219: Halt

On their way back to the capital, Damon was in a daze. He kept sneaking glances at Abellona, who simply ignored him as if she didn’t notice him staring.

The road to the capital was more crowded than ever. Military equipment, supplies, logistics teams, and troops from all nations filled the roads. It was as if the whole world was now in Soltheon.

Everyone who could fight was here. Forces from all seven continents had arrived, and some were still coming. It was almost time, wasn’t it?

The battle in Lysithara.

Damon knew the outsiders wanted the Pillar of Conflict. Whoever offered it first to the Unknown God would be rewarded. He couldn’t even imagine what kind of reward would be given for something like that. The fact was, everyone had a desire when it came to the outsiders. What they sought was a chance to reach Akasha, just like those in Lysithara.

That said, Akasha was the peak of all magical knowledge and understanding, but some of them didn’t even use magic. What they wanted was something similar, but different.

Those who used Ather wanted to achieve something else, Aatraxia.

And the users of Qi, the cultivators like the blind old Daoist, sought the Dao.

In the end, what they all pursued was greater knowledge and power.

Maybe not all of them. But even these powerful beings had a desire, a wish.

Damon wondered what there was left for him to wish for. He had already gotten what he wanted. His life was good. He was...

He paused.

People were born from desire and died with desires. No person’s wishes were ever truly fulfilled. When one wish was granted, a new one took its place. That was simply being human, wanting and dreaming.

Then what would he wish for if he were to face the Unknown with the Pillar?

Would he wish for absolute power?

Absolute knowledge?

Or would he wish for happiness?

Happiness was the most fleeting thing of all because it didn’t last forever. It was a sweet taste that was always too brief.

"I am happy," he whispered.

Damon had many reasons to grieve, but he had even more reasons to be happy. What would become of him if he were to lose this fleeting taste?

He glanced down at the unfamiliar hands of the woman whose body he had taken over. He didn’t even know her name. She was just a nameless vessel whose soul he had suppressed and whose body he had enslaved.

They would lose.

This war, they would lose it. Sylvia had said it. She had foreseen it.

Matia had also told him the same thing when she went back home.

And Damon knew it too.

The outsiders were simply not on the same level as them. They were far beyond it, far outside their realm of power.

"Fighting them is going to be a pain," he groaned, but it had to be done.

Damon had two children to worry about and a third on the way. Right now, he felt a lot like these soldiers marching toward battle, not for glory, but because someone had to protect their homes and their families.

If that wasn’t noble, he didn’t know what was.

It was greater than a battle for glory, for honor, or for wealth.

Damon soon reached the gates of the capital, with the flags of House Brightwater flying alongside those of the Imperial Army. No one stopped them from entering. In fact, the moment they stepped onto the streets of the capital, riding their galloping steeds, people abandoned whatever they were doing and began cheering for them, tossing flowers and ornaments into the air.

It was quite clear what the mood in the capital was.

Damon hadn’t seen the capital this lively since the War Games. It was as if the whole place had gone to shit after that.

Damon decided to head toward the Brightwater family estate while Lilith and everyone else also left to return to their own affairs.

They would meet again soon. After all, they were all in the same city.

He, on the other hand, stood before a large palace and took a deep breath.

Evangeline was inside, and she was most likely still angry with him. Damon dismissed the knights and stopped outside the entrance, pacing back and forth while he tried to figure out what he was going to say to her.

Especially about Renata being a demon.

He knew she was angry, and he also knew she wouldn’t tell anyone about it to protect him.

"Ahhh, why is this so difficult? I just need to walk in. Walk in, it’s not that hard. This is my home too."

He stopped for a moment, rubbing his chin as he thought.

"Okay, okay, I can do this. What’s she gonna do? I’m stronger than her anyway."

Just as he said that, he glanced down at his current body before immediately groaning.

"No. She’ll mess me up in this body."

Just as Damon was saying that, someone approached him from behind.

"Halt! State your identity!"

A knight came running forward with two others behind him. Damon glanced at them before completely ignoring them, continuing to pace as if they weren’t even there.

"State your identity," the young knight repeated, his expression becoming suspicious as he placed a hand on the hilt of his sword.

"This is restricted grounds."

Damon finally looked at them like they were fools before sighing.

"I’m Damon Grey. Now screw off," he said, feeling mildly irritated.

The three knights glanced at one another before drawing their swords. One of them stepped forward cautiously.

"If you’re Damon Grey, then I’m the Goddess of Doom. Put your hands where I can see them, ma’am. You’re under arrest."

Damon stared at them.

All three were Fourth Class.

"I’m Damon Grey. I may not look like myself, but I am."

"Sure you are. Where have I heard that one before?" the second knight said, shaking his head.

"A few days of interrogation at the Knights’ HQ should set you straight."

They approached Damon.

He sighed and shook his head.

Then, as soon as they reached him, a portion of his soul emerged from his body. It floated behind him for a moment before turning its gaze toward the knights and glaring at them.

"Do you want to screw off, or do I have to screw you over?"

The knights froze.

Their faces immediately went pale as they glanced at one another, cold sweat forming on their foreheads.

The third knight’s eyes rolled back, and he promptly passed out.

The other two turned around and hurried away without another word.

"Come back and take your friend."

They stopped, looked back at the unconscious knight, then quickly returned and dragged him away between them.

Damon scoffed.

He had wasted enough time already.

He finally turned toward the entrance and decided to just go inside.

It wasn’t like Evangeline was going to kill him.

Damon walked into the large palace, and as soon as he entered, a maid glanced at him before bowing slightly.

"Excuse me, my lady. Can you state your identity?"

"I’m Damon Grey," he replied lazily, walking past the maid without slowing down.

When he said that, the maid froze in confusion before taking a cautious step back.

"Are you a guest of His Excellency?"

Damon scoffed and simply ignored her, continuing toward the left wing where he knew he would find Evangeline.

"My lady, please stop. You cannot enter without permission, I beseech you."

Her words caused a commotion, and soon several knights and maids came rushing over to see what was happening.

Damon sighed and held his temples, already feeling a headache coming on.

"First of all, shut up. Second, this is my house. And last but not least, I am Damon freaking Grey."

When Damon said that, the maid became even more confused.

This strange woman must be suicidal to try and impersonate Damon Grey.

She glanced toward the knights, who slowly began approaching to subdue the strange woman who had apparently lost her mind.

Damon rubbed his forehead.

"Anyone who touches me is leaving this place with some broken bones."

The knights weren’t intimidated. They continued approaching, hands resting on their weapons, and just as they came close...

"I see you’re back and already causing a commotion, dear."

A woman’s voice echoed from a balcony overlooking the ground floor.

Everyone turned toward the beautiful woman standing there and immediately bowed.

Damon wasn’t sure how she had recognized him, but this was his aunt, Annalise.

"First, I didn’t do anything. Second of all, they started it."

"I don’t blame them. You don’t look like yourself. Did you change your hairstyle?" she asked with a smile.

"Haha, very funny. I can’t believe you’d make fun of my plight."

Damon scoffed, crossing his arms.

Annalise smiled and raised a hand to her lips as she looked him over.

"But you look so adorable."

The moment the knights and maids heard her say that, their expressions changed.

Their faces slowly went pale.

So that really was Damon Grey.

One by one, they began quietly disappearing from the area before Damon could turn his attention back toward them.

Annalise descended from the balcony and approached him with an amused smile.

"Welcome home, dear. I’ve been waiting for you. Do you mind if we have some girl talk?"

She said it while clearly keeping in mind that Damon was currently in a woman’s body.

Damon’s face twisted into an ugly expression.

"You’re really enjoying this, aren’t you?"

"A little, yes."