Chapter 1590: Exhibition of Power

The blinding light faded, and for a brief moment, Bael stood frozen, the massive hole in its chest smoking and glowing faintly from the holy strike. Then its enormous body began to tilt. Slowly at first... then uncontrollably.

The towering monster staggered backward, its claws scraping helplessly against the sand as if trying to hold onto something that was no longer there. A low, broken roar escaped its throat before its massive frame finally gave in.

Splash—!

Bael’s gigantic body collapsed backward into the sea, sending towering waves crashing toward the shore. Water surged violently, swallowing the demon’s body as it sank beneath the churning surface, leaving only ripples and scattered foam behind.

For a second, the battlefield was silent, then a moment after, cheers erupted from the soldiers, Paladins, and even the gifted people team that watched the fight.

"Yeahhh, Lord Salvo!"

"Victory for Lord Salvo!"

"The Paladin has defeated the monster!"

The soldiers raised their weapons in the air, their voices filled with excitement and relief. Even the Gifted People combat group let out quiet breaths of relief, some nodding in approval while others looked at Salvo with renewed respect. The paladins behind him stood proudly, their expressions filled with admiration, as if witnessing something glorious and divine.

On the shore, Salvo stood motionless. His white sword was still extended forward, the blade faintly glowing as the last traces of holy light faded into the air. His silver cape fluttered behind him, and his posture remained steady and composed, like a victorious knight carved into a statue.

A flawless finishing pose.

Not far away, Zhao Li Xin watched the scene quietly, his expression calm yet strangely unreadable. His eyes lingered on Salvo for a moment, carrying an inexplicable depth — neither impressed nor dismissive, but contemplative, as though he were silently weighing something only he could perceive.

At the same time, Lory’s expression deepened, curiosity flickering in her eyes along with a hint of excitement. Finally, she was seeing him display his power right in front of her.

The holy energy that burst from his blade, the clean and decisive strike, and the calm confidence in his posture spoke volumes. Even if this was not his full strength, it was enough for her to grasp the foundation of his power.

For a preliminary assessment, Salvo de Rova might be able to match an Archknight. Lory’s lips curved slightly at the thought. Well, at the very least, it wouldn’t be a boring fight.

Lory slowly rose to her feet, brushing the dust from her clothes as she prepared to approach Zhao Li Xin. Meeting Salvo de Rova face to face would be far more enlightening than watching from afar.

But just as she took a step forward, her movement halted, and Zhao Li Xin’s hand moved slightly behind his back. It was so subtle that no one else noticed.

A small, almost imperceptible gesture, like a careless movement of his fingers. Yet to Lory, it was as clear as a spoken command, and then the wind carried his voice to her ears.

’Don’t come.’

Lory tilted her head slightly, confusion flashing across her face. Salvo de Rova’s presence did not frighten her. On the contrary, she was rather curious about him.

After hearing so much about the man, she actually wanted to stand before him, observe him closely, and perhaps exchange a few words. There was no fear in her heart, just intrigue. 𝔣𝖗ⅇℯ

However, Lory was sure that Zhao Li Xin must have had a good reason for stopping him. Her Gaze returned to Zhao Li Xin, and after a brief pause, she sat back down on the edge and continued watching.

Lory was right, Zhao Li Xin indeed had a good reason. Since Salvo was able to see through Zhao Li Xin’s disguise despite the Versipell Potion, it meant his perception was far sharper than Zhao Li Xin had anticipated, or perhaps he possessed a hidden power they did not yet know about. If Bael’s power could get stronger, then it was not impossible that Salvo’s power had been enhanced as well.

Either way, Zhao Li Xin refused to take any unnecessary risks when it came to Lory’s safety.

All this time, their enemies believed their greatest obstacles were Lucas and the Archknights. In their eyes, those were the strongest forces standing in their way. They never expected that another Lucient heir would appear to face them.

Lory’s return was something no one anticipated, even dreamed of.

Therefore, one could only imagine the enemy’s reaction when they finally discovered that she had returned, how it would shake the enemy’s confidence, how it would affect the King’s Men’s morality, and, moreover, how it would send shockwaves across the entire world.

He could already imagine that it would be... phenomenal, and precisely because of that, Lory’s existence had to remain a tightly guarded secret for now.

Salvo walked toward Zhao Li Xin with steady, measured steps, his silver cape swaying lightly behind him. Confidence and pride radiated from his every movement, his expression calm yet undeniably arrogant, like a victor approaching someone already beneath him.

Zhao Li Xin, however, remained unmoved. His face was impassive, his gaze steady and unreadable. It was difficult to tell what he was thinking, as if his emotions were hidden behind an impenetrable wall.

Salvo narrowed his eyes slightly. He assumed Zhao Li Xin was only pretending to be calm, because no normal person would remain unaffected after witnessing the overwhelming power he had just displayed.

"What do you think?" Salvo asked with an arrogant smirk.

"Not bad," Zhao Li Xin replied flatly, his expression devoid of emotion. Yes, he is no ordinary man.

Salvo let out a cold chuckle. Regardless, he had to admit he was impressed by Zhao Li Xin’s self-control. The man was far more composed than most warriors he had encountered. If only his younger brother possessed even half of this restraint, Salvo would have entrusted him with greater responsibilities long ago.

"You see that..." Salvo raised his arm slightly, gesturing toward the sea where Bael’s massive carcass had sunk beneath the waves. "I know you are powerful, but I can make you even stronger, so that killing such a monster would become easier than lifting a hand."

Zhao Li Xin’s eyes darkened slightly. His mind immediately drifted to the Seed of Life and Zalchana, recalling the time when Mevissa mentioned she had given the fruit to strengthen the people in her world, and the curse she inflicted at the end.

If Bael’s power had been enhanced by the Seed, then Salvo’s surely also came from the same resource. This raised an important question. If Salvo’s current power came from the Seed... then what kind of power did he possess before? Or perhaps— Did he even have power at all before this?

"You can make me stronger?" Zhao Li Xin’s eyes are probing.

Salvo’s eyes lit up slightly, believing he had finally caught Zhao Li Xin’s interest."I told you," Salvo said smoothly, a confident smile spreading across his face, "I can give you power, fame, wealth, and everything beyond your imagination. And I am not lying."

"As long as I yield to you, right?" Zhao Li Xin said cynically.

Salvo opened his arms and shrugged casually, as if it were the most reasonable condition in the world. "I think it’s just a small price," he said lightly, his smile calm and assured, "Compared to everything I’m gonna give it to you..."

Zhao Li Xin raised his brows slightly, feeling both amused and faintly bewildered. This was probably the first time someone had so bluntly asked him to yield right to his face. The audacity was almost refreshing...well, almost.

On the other hand, Lory’s face turned sour. Whether it was men or women, why did everyone seem so eager to snatch her handsome husband away from her? This Salvo de Rova was truly too presumptuous. What exactly could he offer Zhao Li Xin that she couldn’t give as well?

Her lips pressed into a thin line as she watched the two men from afar. If Zhao Li Xin wanted it, she could build him an entire palace — not just a palace, but one with a private lake, vast gardens, and hectares of land where he could do whatever he pleased. Power, wealth, influence... none of it was beyond her reach.

Hmph, treasures, wealth, fame, she can give those too! Lory grumbled inwardly, her mood turning increasingly irritable. Her arms crossed over her chest as she glared at Salvo’s back, looking thoroughly displeased. This is not the first time Salvo has tried to get Zhao Li Xin to his side, and the more she heard it, the more annoyed she became.

’Fred is right, this man is annoying.’

All of a sudden, a panicked shout broke the tense atmosphere.

"Commander! It’s bad — Bael’s blood has contaminated the seawater!"

"What?!" the commander barked in shock, turning sharply toward the shore.

All eyes immediately shifted to the sea. It was then that they noticed dark crimson liquid slowly spreading across the water’s surface, staining the once-blue sea into a sickly black-purple color.

The waves churned unnaturally, and wherever the blood touched, the water began to bubble and hiss like boiling acid. A foul, choking stench drifted toward the shore, making several soldiers cover their mouths and step back in disgust.

Dead fish floated to the surface one after another, their bodies already turning black and rotten. Even the seawater near the shore began to darken, creeping closer like a spreading plague.

"Stay away, it’s toxic!" one of the Gifted People shouted, his face turning pale.

"Oh no, the contamination is spreading with the current!"

"We must do something!"

Panic spread instantly among the soldiers, their expressions turning pale with fear. Some stepped back from the shoreline, while others stared helplessly at the poisoned sea, unsure what to do. If the toxic blood continued to spread, it wouldn’t just destroy the beach, but it would also contaminate nearby waters, ports, and even drinking sources.

The situation had suddenly escalated to an entirely different level, far beyond mere infrastructure destruction. No, this was far more devastating than broken buildings and ruined shores.

A foul, pungent stench drifted from the ocean, thick and nauseating, carried by the sea breeze toward the shore. Zhao Li Xin caught the smell almost immediately.

His brows furrowed slightly as he lifted a finger to his nose in a refined, almost absent-minded gesture, subtly shielding himself from the unpleasant stench carried by the sea breeze.

"This smell again... ugh," Zhao Li Xin grumbled under his breath, a faint trace of disgust flashing across his calm face.