System's POV

Now that he had seen what Project Exodia looked like, Norman finally understood where Aaron’s confidence was coming from.

In their eyes, the greatest threat was the Grand Marshal of the Central Government, Lawrence.

However, no matter how strong the Monarch was, they could at most fight a Rank 8 Sovereign.

A Rank 9 Sovereign was simply too powerful for them to defeat. This was the reason Aaron felt certain that Lawrence wouldn’t dare to cross them again the moment his trump card appeared.

Lady Callista decisively backed away and attacked Norman, forcing the latter to distance himself to safety, giving Michael some breathing space.

“Mother, we can’t beat that,” Michael said.

“I know,” Lady Callista replied.

Although he was now a Monarch, she could feel that fighting against the alien-looking monster wouldn’t be an easy task.

Aaron laughed when he saw Michael’s panicked expression and the beautiful lady’s solemn look.

“I admit, the two of you have indeed surprised me,” Aaron stated. “I came here today to capture the two of you. But I have changed my mind. I will kill you both and give your heads to Arthur as a gift.”

He then glanced at Exodia, who was now using its tentacles to slow its descent. Currently, it was two hundred meters away from the ground, and its mere presence made the retainers of the Leventis Family look at it with grim expressions on their faces.

But just as everyone thought the end had come, a beam of light collided with Exodia, pushing it back to the sky.

Aaron almost choked on his laughter. That sudden beam attack was strong enough to annihilate him, leaving nothing behind.

Far out into the sea of the Aldebaran Continent, Jubei sneered as the robots that Thirteen had created to become his crew confirmed that they had successfully landed their attack at Exodia.

“So that’s Project Exodia,” Jubei said. “Did it die from our attack? We’re supposed to take it back to Master.”

“Life signs confirmed,” one of the robots replied. “Target has not died and has been sent out to the sea. Athena had detected that it is now regenerating its injuries at a fast rate. Your orders, Captain?”

“Hit it, baby, one more time,” Jubei replied. “Just make sure not to kill it.”

[E/N: My loneliness~ Is killing me~]

“Yes, Sir!” the robot replied. “Firing second salvo.”

Nautilus unleashed another one of its beam attacks to deal with Exodia, whom Thirteen had asked to be captured at all costs.

——

Back at the Leventis Residence…

“Is that all you have, Aaron?” Lady Callista sneered. “You came here, bringing only one trump card? It seems that you’ve really underestimated our family too much.”

“You wench!” Aaron snapped back. “What is that?! Did your family develop a weapon we’re not aware of?!”

“Do you really think I’ll tell you?” Lady Callista chuckled. “You came here, thinking to end my family. And yet, it’s you and your people who have come here to dig their graves. Mark my words, today is the day that you die, Aaron Ashford. You will die by my…”

“He will die by my hands, not yours, My Lady.”

Lady Callista glanced in the direction from which she heard the voice, making her eyes widen in shock.

Aaron and Norman also looked in the direction she was looking at and saw a monster that shouldn’t be in the Aldebaran Continent.

“How?” Aaron, whose face had now lost all of its colors, asked. “Why are you here?”

“How is not important,” Erasmus replied. “Why I came here is what’s more important. I came here to kill you, Aaron Ashford. I have dreamt of this for hundreds of years, and it’s now time that you feel my pain!”

Without another word, the Lord of Death raised his hand and summoned the Undead Wyvern King and the Undead Centipede King, who immediately started to massacre the retainers of the Ashford and Stallard Clans.

Lady Callista and Michael both breathed a sigh of relief, seeing the Rank 8 Sovereign was on their side.

Just like Aaron, they were wondering how Erasmus was able to come here from the Rigel Continent.

But what made them truly curious was the Lord of Death’s hatred of Aaron to the bone.

Norman, who realized that they no longer had the upper hand, decided to make a hasty retreat.

However, how could Lady Callista allow him to do that?

They clashed, with the beautiful lady having the upper hand in their first exchange.

“Callista, let’s talk this out.” Norman, who realized that his opponent seemed stronger than he was, decided to compromise. “Aaron threatened me to come here. I had no choice.”

“You really think I’m stupid, huh?” Lady Callista replied. “There will be no negotiations. There will be no compromise. Today, I will end your life!”

“You should listen to reason, you crazy woman!” Norman roared in anger. “I will compensate the Leventis Family! I am also willing to cede lands in the Sirius Continent and in Solterra! If you want more, we can negotiate!”

“Don’t worry,” Lady Callista sneered. “After I bring your head back to your family, I’ll make sure to take everything and leave nothing behind!”

“Curse you, old hag!”

“You’re older than me, so it’s time for you to die!”

While Lady Callista and Norman were fighting each other to the death, Aaron was currently being toyed with by Erasmus, who was far stronger.

The two exchanged several blows with each other, and each time they clashed, blood would spill out from Aaron’s body.

“Ahhhhhhh!” Aaron shouted in pain, fear, and despair as Erasmus crushed his left hand when he tried to punch the latter’s face.

The Lord of Death had waited for many years to hear the Monarch’s scream of pain and desperation, which was music to his ears.

“This isn’t happening!” Aaron shouted. “This is impossible! This is just a dream! An illusion! I am supposed to become the ruler of this world! I am the king of this world! No one can defeat me! No one! No ahhhhhhhhhhhhH!”

Erasmus crushed Aaron’s right hand, making the Monarch scream louder.

“You want to be the King of this world?” Erasmus asked in disdain. “You might have succeeded. Unfortunately for you, Thirteen appeared in this era. The moment he appeared, your fate was sealed.”

“T-Thirteen?” Aaron asked through gritted teeth. “I don’t know anyone named Thirteen.”

“I know,” Erasmus replied. “Because you are not worthy to know someone like him. Now… scream for me!”

The Lord of Death bent Aaron’s right hand, making the Monarch scream for the third time.

His screams made the retainers of the Ashford and Stallard Clans fall into despair, and they dropped their weapons and raised their hands in surrender.

They hoped that the Leventis Family and the Undead Monster would spare them and give them a second chance at life.

Michael fixed his glasses using his middle finger as he looked at the defeated Champions and Grandmasters, who had come to annihilate their entire family.

Right now, he didn’t know what to do with them because he wasn’t as bloodthirsty as his father.

He knew with utmost certainty that before this day was over, the balance of power of the world would be reshuffled.

The Ashford and Stallard Clans would fall from grace, while their family would make a meteoric rise.

However, Michael knew that the only reason why the Leventis Family wasn’t annihilated today was due to his nephew, who had created many trump cards powerful enough to tilt the battle in their favor.