Multiverse: Library

Today was destined to be a rather special day.

Originally cloudless and as sunny as summer, the skies above Sardinia suddenly turned gloomy.

Gray clouds emerged from all directions, gradually covering the sky as they darkened further and further, plunging all of Sardinia into darkness without a shred of light.

People looked up at the oppressive sky and rushed back to their residences while constantly complaining.

"Why did it suddenly get so dark?"

"Is it going to rain?"

"There was a storm not long ago, and now it's going to rain again?"

"What's going on with Sardinia?"

"If I had known, I wouldn't have chosen this time to travel..."

Some complained, some worried, and others looked grim, as all sorts of undercurrents surged beneath the surface.

There was no helping it—this was the Mediterranean, warm, dry, and rarely rainy. Sardinia was located within the Mediterranean, and normally, it didn't rain.

But this year's Sardinia had suddenly been hit with a massive storm not long ago, and now such abnormal weather had appeared again. Even ordinary people found this puzzling, let alone the members of the supernatural side active on the island.

Kaiser was also standing by the window of his hotel room, lifting the curtain, opening the window, and looking at the pitch-black sky outside with slightly narrowed eyes.

"Is it Melqart?"

He could already sense it—a vast amount of magical power was continuously gathering in the sky.

After observing the sky for a while, Kaiser turned around, left the room, and pushed open the door.

"Your Majesty."

Erica was right outside the door, seemingly about to knock. Seeing Kaiser come out, she immediately prepared to salute.

"Don't be so formal. Be careful or someone might see and get the wrong idea about my... peculiar tastes."

Kaiser stopped Erica and said with a touch of annoyance, continuing to walk outside.

"Please rest assured." Erica followed closely behind, like a retainer, trailing behind Kaiser and said, "This hotel has already been requisitioned by the Copper Black Cross. Other than Your Majesty, everyone else here is staff sent by the Copper Black Cross. Especially this floor—only Your Majesty resides here, and only I am allowed up."

"Oh?" Kaiser raised an eyebrow and looked at Erica. "The Copper Black Cross moves this fast?"

He had only revealed his identity to Erica yesterday, so the Copper Black Cross couldn't have known about his arrival for more than a day.

And within less than a day, they had already sent people to secure the entire hotel?

Though it wasn't an extravagant move, it was certainly fast.

"This is the treatment Your Majesty deserves." Erica smiled matter-of-factly. "My uncle… the Commander of the Copper Black Cross, also asked me to convey his greetings to you and apologize for not being able to come to Sardinia personally to pay his respects to the new King."

"I don't care about that." Kaiser shook his head and said, "You don't need to go through all this trouble either. After all, I'm not the King of Italy."

"Even if you're not the King of Italy, you still deserve the treatment of a King. Otherwise, foreign powers will look down on us." Erica smiled sweetly. "Please rest assured, Your Majesty. We merely wish to provide you with a comfortable living environment. No one will casually disturb you."

These were nice-sounding words, of course.

Rather than saying no one would casually disturb Kaiser, it was more accurate to say—even if someone wanted to, they wouldn't dare.

If they accidentally provoked the new King, it would only bring immense trouble to the Copper Black Cross and others.

So, Erica was the only one who would attend to Kaiser at his side, ready to receive his orders. Everyone else would avoid appearing before him as much as possible.

Including the supernatural factions currently present on Sardinia—seeing the Copper Black Cross's actions, they had likely already realized something but didn't dare to come pay their respects to the new King casually.

"Alright, that saves me the effort."

Naturally, Kaiser didn't want to waste time exchanging pleasantries with irrelevant people, so he nodded and dropped the subject.

After descending from the top floor, the two took the elevator down to the first floor.

There was a restaurant here—very high-end. As Kaiser descended, he saw members of the Copper Black Cross moving crates of fresh ingredients, which were clearly expensive and carefully prepared.

Kaiser walked into the restaurant, and immediately a group of waiters ran over, respectfully welcoming him and leading the way. It looked as if they were escorting royalty, guiding Kaiser to the best seat in the house.

It's worth mentioning that all the regular tables in the restaurant had been cleared out and replaced with a long dining table at least ten meters long, covered with exquisite tablecloths—the kind you'd only see in noble households on TV.

And as soon as Kaiser sat at the head of the table, Erica clapped her hands, and a large group of chefs in uniforms pushed in luxurious food carts, placing steaming hot dishes before him.

"..."

Kaiser was rendered speechless by the sheer scale.

Because the dishes laid out in front of him covered the entire massive dining table.

And they weren't just Italian cuisine—there was Chinese food, Japanese food, Western food, French dishes, Thai cuisine, Mexican food, and more—a banquet of delicacies from around the world.

This wasn't a Manchu Han Imperial Feast—it was a World Feast.

The Copper Black Cross had even prepared several attendants. Without Kaiser even speaking, as soon as his gaze swept to a dish, a server would bring it before him. If it was fish, they'd debone it; if it was meat, they'd slice it neatly on the spot. The service was so attentive it surpassed even royal treatment.

"Please enjoy, Your Majesty." Erica now resembled a servant or perhaps a butler as she introduced, "All of these were freshly flown and shipped in this morning. Every ingredient has passed at least thirteen quality inspections. The chefs, though recruited temporarily, are all renowned local talents. Until Your Majesty departs Sardinia, they will serve you alone."

"I particularly recommend the local specialties like seafood pearl pasta, crepe with raw meat slices, and pecorino sheep's milk. The chefs preparing these three are the most skilled among them all."

"Of course, if you're not accustomed to the local cuisine, we also have Eastern Chinese and Japanese dishes to ensure your dining experience is absolutely delightful."

Erica's calm and composed voice, combined with the grand setting, would make anyone who saw this feel sincere admiration for the Copper Black Cross's capabilities.

In any case, although Kaiser was left speechless, he had to admit—he was in a great mood. He was indeed being served comfortably.

Compared to the History Compilation Committee, the Copper Black Cross clearly understood how to serve a Campione. They already had a mature protocol for hosting a Campione.

If Sayanomiya Kaoru and Tōuma were here to witness this, they would surely be stunned.

"That's enough. I'll do it myself." Kaiser waved his hand to dismiss the waiter slicing his steak, then looked at Erica. "You're not joining?"

"Of course not." Erica smiled leisurely. "Though I am a knight, not a servant, dining at the same table with the King might be a bit too presumptuous."

"Suit yourself." Kaiser didn't press her, picking up his knife and fork and eating the steak as he said, "Just make sure that when trouble really comes, you still have the strength to run."

Hearing that, Erica's smile faded.

"So it really is Melqart's doing?"

Erica looked at the pitch-black sky outside and, after a moment of hesitation, asked Kaiser.

"Nine times out of ten." Kaiser didn't bother looking outside anymore, eating slowly as he said, "A god capable of manipulating the sky like this—only Melqart comes to mind."

Melqart was the god of the sky, so of course he could manipulate it.

In contrast, Verethragna had many avatars, each with unique Authorities, but among his ten avatars, not one could affect the sky in such a way.

"Isn't he still injured?" Erica's expression changed slightly. "Could it be that he's already healed?"

"Not that fast." Kaiser dismissed Erica's guess. "Although a god's vitality is extraordinary and recovery shouldn't take long, he was stabbed by the Golden Sword that can sever Divinity. Unless that broken sword is dealt with, he absolutely cannot recover."

"Then the sky outside...?"

Erica furrowed her brow.

"Did you misunderstand something?" Kaiser glanced at Erica and said calmly, "That's a god, not a human. So what if he's injured?"

"You think being hurt is entirely a bad thing for him?"

Kaiser's words instantly made Erica understand.

"Got it?" Kaiser finished a steak and began eating a large lobster, speaking leisurely as he said, "Gods and Campione are essentially the same as wild beasts. Even when wounded, it only rouses their ferocity."

"The more severe the injury, the harsher the situation, the more their special nature becomes evident."

"To survive, to defeat powerful foes, they sometimes unleash power that defies logic."

"So, the more perilous the situation, the more it stirs a god's fighting spirit and battle intent, putting them in full combat mode."

"At that point, instead of weakening due to injuries, they become even stronger."

Melqart was likely in such a state now.

"Yesterday's strike, though it didn't cause him serious harm, completely awakened his fighting spirit and battle intent."

"Knowing that his opponent and nemesis are on this island, he's going all out."

"Sardinia's current abnormal weather is likely the result of his power becoming fully activated."

In other words, although Melqart had not yet recovered, in his current state, his recovery would likely accelerate greatly.

"Verethragna might also have been provoked, and his speed in reclaiming avatars should increase." Kaiser picked up a napkin, wiped his mouth, then turned to Erica and asked, "Yesterday and today, have any new Divine Beasts appeared?"

"Yes." Erica had clearly already investigated and immediately replied, "Yesterday, in the town of Dolgali, two Divine Beasts manifested one after another."

"The first was a goat that manipulates lightning."

"Then, as if drawn in, a golden phoenix appeared."

According to intelligence from the Copper Black Cross, the two Divine Beasts fought fiercely after manifesting, nearly destroying the entire town of Dolgali.

Just as the people of Dolgali were mentally preparing for the worst, a Golden Sword suddenly shot down from the sky, first piercing through the "goat" and reducing it to ash, then pursuing the fleeing "phoenix," with both vanishing into the heavens.

"This time it was the 'goat' and the 'phoenix'?"

Kaiser muttered.

"Together with the previous 'camel,' 'shepherd,' 'bull,' 'boar,' 'strong wind,' and 'warrior'... that makes eight avatars, right?"

Erica said the same.

"No, it should be nine." Kaiser shook his head. "There's also the 'youth' avatar, which should've been reclaimed long ago."

"No, that's not right either."

"Rather, that 'youth' avatar is actually the other party's main body—it's been with Verethragna from the start."

Hearing that, Erica was stunned, then her pupils contracted.

At that moment, the boy who had spoken with Kaiser when they first met surfaced in her mind.

That boy who always appeared where Divine Beasts manifested—could he be...

Before Erica could finish the thought, Kaiser cut her off.

"If nothing unexpected happens, the only one Verethragna hasn't reclaimed is the 'white horse.'"

Kaiser smiled, calm yet full of anticipation.

"Looks like the time for battle is approaching."

These words, paired with Kaiser's calm yet expectant tone, made Erica feel as though he had become far more savage.

It was the expression of a hunter who had locked onto his prey.

It was the expression of a warrior eager to fight.

Knowing that both gods who would soon be his opponents were rapidly recovering in their own ways, this Campione not only didn't feel displeased—he was genuinely pleased.

Indeed... this man was a Campione, a King, a Conqueror, and a Demon Lord.

"If there's any news of the 'white horse' manifesting, be sure to let me know."

Kaiser had finished eating and stood up, speaking to Erica.

"Once the 'white horse' appears and is reclaimed, Verethragna will immediately return to full power."

"At that time, he'll either come to me directly, or go after Melqart."

"So, once you hear about the 'white horse,' that will be the start of the battle."

"Make sure to gather your people and organize civilian evacuation. Otherwise..."

Leaving those words behind, Kaiser turned and left.

Only Erica remained, gazing out at the sky—feeling a deep chill all over her body.

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