A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines

Amid the thunderous roar of collapsing debris, the cold, imposing visage of the steel colossus emerged through the shattered dome of the palace.

Outside, the residents of the imperial capital gazed in terror at the gigantic steel figure suspended in mid-air, the destruction and despair of the Day of Catastrophe seemingly returning, driving them to their knees in uncontrollable reverence.

As the cacophony of extreme violence gradually subsided, Hydral stood beneath the throne, smiling gently:

"What was it you wished to ask, Lord Sapphire?"

The ouroboros bracelet on his wrist emitted a barely perceptible glow. Entrusting everything to Ansel, Miss Scholar, utilizing Nidhoggur's extraordinary creation as a vessel capable of independent action and instant return from miles away.

Following his will, the steel colossus, capable of momentarily contending with weakened deities, was brought forth once more into the world.

This was the queen beside the king, a powerful card to reverse the situation at any moment.

"... Please forgive my presumption and rudeness, Lord Hydral."

Beneath the colossal sword that could crush the entire palace, the Duke of Sapphire, protected by a blue shield, was unharmed. He bowed his head in fear and trepidation: "How could I doubt your feelings for Her Majesty and the royal family, slandering your character and honor..."

"What must I do to earn your forgiveness, Lord Hydral?"

The Duke of Sapphire raised his head as he spoke, his handsome face full of remorse and regret.

"To earn my forgiveness, hmm..."

Supporting himself with a staff, Ansel lightly tapped the back of his hand with his fingers. He looked at the Duke of Sapphire, then at the other two dukes from Eastport, naturally standing on the same front, and with a reassuring tone, he said gently: "You are mistaken, Lord Sapphire. Do I seem so brutally dangerous in your eyes?"

"A mere reasonable question..."

As he spoke, the short staff in his hand transformed with mechanical precision into a cold hand cannon.

The young man carelessly stroked the masterpiece of the Alchemy God: "Is it necessary for me to have Venna greet you?"

Boom!

With a dull roar, the massive sword that struck the shield instantly created a huge pit in the ground where the Duke of Sapphire stood. His surroundings had long been cleared, except for the two other dukes from Eastport.

Although the giant blade appearing now was not as enormous as the one that tore the earth during the battle with Ephesande, its power seemed undiminished.

Your journey continues at empire

"The perfect resonance of three types of ether, this peculiar amplification method... Even the most top-tier sorcerers might not be able to create such a technique. Is this the handiwork of our old friends at the Etheric Academy?"

"Oh... So there's also the assistance of the Alchemy Association's master craftsmen. What materials were used to create this protective alchemical device? To produce a protective artifact with such astonishing efficiency, the materials must be exceedingly luxurious. No wonder the three great families that have been operating Eastport for over eight hundred years have such profound foundations.

The resources of the Lost Sea are indeed enviable."

The Duke of Sapphire's expression finally began to change. He tightly grasped the pendant around his neck, and the other two dukes, alongside him, continuously channeled a torrent of ether into it in the unique manner Ansel had described, sustaining the shield that could withstand the colossal sword capable of effortlessly cleaving mountains and cutting through the earth.

How could it be... just one glance, and he saw through everything?

The Duke of Sapphire did not doubt the abilities of the divine species. He did not doubt the Empress, nor did he doubt that a mere glance from Flamelle could penetrate his every secret. But only a true divine species could achieve such a feat!

Secretly contacting the highest nine seats of the Etheric Academy to obtain a special technique from the ancient Sky Conquering relic, or finding the long-hidden alchemical master, and spending an exorbitant amount that even strained their resources to create this alchemical device... The Duke of Sapphire could guarantee that these matters could not possibly be known to anyone.

Hydral, so young, not even half of the pact head present, could not possibly have the means to infiltrate to such an extent.

Ansel of Hydral... What else is he hiding?

The chaotic thoughts in the Duke of Sapphire's mind were interrupted by the increasing pressure transmitted through the necklace. The continuously trembling necklace reflected the sheer terror of the giant sword striking the shield—showing that the steel colossus had not even used its full strength, perhaps… not even exerting any effort, merely swinging its sword casually.

"Edward, we must retreat further!"

The voice of the Duke of Triumph reached the mind of the Duke of Sapphire from behind: "Hydral still has strength left!"

A long-planned test could not simply conclude with a straightforward yes or no. The dukes from Eastport had already made numerous predictions about today's situation and devised corresponding choices.

If, at the outset, Ansel had ignored the Duke of Sapphire's "offense," it would have signified that the young Hydral himself was on the edge of a precipice, unable to present a stronger counterweight, and even as a divine species, would have to relent.

Conversely, if Ansel retaliated against the offense, it would indicate that he still had greater depths of power, with the ferocity and violence of his response revealing just how formidable his hidden cards were.

Clearly, the current situation was the one they least wanted to see and considered the least likely.

And in such a scenario, the Duke of Sapphire's response was naturally as the Duke of Triumph suggested: continued retreat—

"I said, I am not angered by your offense."

But before the Duke of Sapphire could speak, Ansel had already aimed the dark barrel of the gun at him.

Seeing his frozen expression, the young Hydral's smile remained unchanged, as if chatting with an old friend rather than trying to smash him into a pulp or blow his brains out.