Chapter 1072 Karmic Resonance

Arthur closed his eyes after the dragon left. Although their meeting was short, lasting only a few days, Arthur knew that the dragon had dedicated its life for his sake. This made it hard to accept his decision to die, but something else alleviated the situation.

"What's my name?" asked the small dragon made of blue water, which Azkahar had left behind. This is the reason that he turned his knowledge into a pond, only to infuse it with his soul for him to be reborn.

"Your name is Azkahar," said Arthur with a smile as he sat cross-legged. "Do you know the reason behind your existence?"

"...that is the only thing I know," said the small dragon with a nod as it flapped its wings and flew to land on Arthur's shoulder. "My task is to guide you using the knowledge I have."

"Azkahar has thought of everything," said Arthur with a smile as he felt the battle begin outside. "It seems he already knew that inviting me into his dungeon would make the gods sense his presence. However, the name of his lakes is a dead giveaway."

"Azkahar revealed the name of these lakes on purpose, so that believers of the ancient legend will lead those they deem as Demon Kings here," answered the small dragon as if reviewing knowledge. "The gods would not suspect a thing unless they sense his presence."

The small dragon explained without missing a beat, as if his sole purpose was to answer Arthur's questions. Although the answer made sense, Arthur still felt unsure about becoming the so-called Demon King.

"Tell me how to control the wrath, Little Azkahar," said Arthur as he decided to assume nothing and just learn to control his powers at the moment. Things will reveal themselves once he reaches them.

Ascent fought hard against Westcoast, using the Unity Cube that they had to outpower their opponent. However, their enemy also had an artifact that could heal their soldiers instantly. This led to a drawn-out fight that wore out the three-cities alliance.

Dorian, however, had a different issue. His white spear was ruthless while piercing his first enemy before the man fell to the ground, bleeding. This used to be just as easy as breathing, but now, Dorian felt a strange emotion in his chest.

As he stared at the wound on the man's chest, Dorian felt his own resonate in pain. This feeling was akin to mirroring the pain before him, but it made no sense to the spearman who has been through countless battles.

Another soldier rushed to slash him down, and Dorian waved his spear to cut the man's face. The man screamed in pain as he covered his bloody face while rolling on the ground. Dorian grimaced as he felt the pain cover his face as well.

"What is this feeling?" muttered Dorian as he sensed a presence approaching him. A tall man wearing heavy armor approached him with a battleax hanging over his shoulder. "I have no time for this."

"There is no other place for you to be, sir Dorian Stormblade," said the tall man with a smug grin on his face. "I came here to take you alive. Don't worry, you will be skinned alive in front of your father."

"You don't know me to justify such hatred," said Dorian with confusion as he lowered his hand, ignoring the pain in his face and chest. "You do, however, seem familiar."

"You might not remember me, but I courted your sister a few years ago," said the man with a hateful grin as he pulled out his battleax. "After she humiliated me, you found my sister and made love to her!"

"...that doesn't sound like something I would do."

"There is no one arrogant enough to do something this obscene!" said the tall warrior with a craze as he started spitting saliva like a dog. "I will remind you of the humiliation you gave me, Dorian Stormblade! After that, I will raid your city and take your sister as my wife!"

"Ah, I remember you now," said Dorian with realization. "You are the stalker who kept harassing my sister day and night even after she rejected you. I never thought a low-life worm would survive for this long. For the record, your sister was the one who wooed me."

"This is the Dorian I know," said the man with a grin as he leaned forward and licked his ax. "I will make sure to make a pot stew out of your bones, Dorian Stormblade!"

After that, the man rushed forward like a crazed monster while swinging his ax. Dorian stared at him with disgust as he prepared his spear. However, this time, he closed his eyes not to see the wound he is about to inflict.

The man's head flew as Dorian appeared a distance away with his eyes closed. Although he lost his sight, Dorian still retained his battle sense and awareness. However, his wound suddenly started bleeding as well, making him hurry to squeeze it with confusion.

"What is happening to me?" muttered Dorian as he felt dizzy, staring at the blood. "Even without looking at the wound, I was injured myself? Is it possible that this man has such a skill?"

"Wrong."

A voice answered his question from above, and Dorian turned to see a beautiful woman standing atop a pool of blood. Her scarlet-colored irises stared down at him with both interest and aloofness. As she descended to land, Dorian could not keep his eyes off her horns.

"Your body has been cursed, Dorian Stormblade," said the woman who landed in the middle of the battlefield. "I have seen a similar case before."

"A similar case of what?"

"Karmic Resonance," said the woman with a frown as she stared at his neck. "Your body now believes that everything you do to others will happen to you. This is an extreme level of empathy that you have been cursed with."

Dorian listened without believing her words because it made no sense for his body to harm itself. However, the woman seemed convinced as she walked forward and removed his hand from his neck. Then, she wiped the blood and smelled it.

"You are indeed the man he chose," said the woman as she controlled his blood to return to its rightful place and for the wound to close. "My name is Seraphine, a demon who came here to help you."

"A demon?" asked Dorian with confusion. "What are you helping me with?"

"Our Demon King has chosen you to rule the second floor, so it's my job to make sure that you remain undefeated," said the demon as she turned toward the battlefield. "Since you cannot fight for yourself, let us fight for you."

"Us?" asked Dorian for a clarification before two more figures appeared beside them. One of them wore silver gauntlets while the other used a long sword to cut the incoming enemies. "Who are you guys?"

"They call us the Dark Stallions," said the white figure who Dorian suspected to be a Waiga, given his animalistic features.

"That's not our name, you damn monkey," said the feline whose silver gauntlets dripped with blood. "You might be more familiar with our leader, whom you know as Alexie."

Dorian watched as the three defeated every incoming enemy. However, he was more interested in the demon who did not move a muscle to finish her opponents. After seeing the corpses pile without resurrection, the enemies realized her identity as well.

"They have a demon on their side!"

"Call the lord! A demon has appeared!"

The soldiers backed away as armored knights stepped forward from the enemy lines. Ilia Perli and the rest did the same as they marched toward the middle of the battlefield. After seeing their soldiers unable to be healed by the artifact, the atmosphere in the battlefield changed.

"I see that you have allied yourself with a demon," said the old man wearing golden armor while narrowing his eyes at Seraphine. "May the gods bless us against this evil."

"Evil never existed before humans, old man," said Seraphine as she created a blood sword while narrowing her eyes. "Have you written your will before entering this battle?"

"What makes a demon serve a human, then?"

"I serve no one other than the demon king," said Seraphine with a grin as blood dripped from her sword. "Prepare to die, old man."

Before the battle could commence, a voice appeared in everyone's minds. Every droplet of water transmitted the same words to their minds, announcing the beginning of a new era.

Dorian listened to the words spoken by Azkahar with confusion before he connected the dots. Seraphine said she serves the demon king, while the feline said they served Alexie.

"Then, the Demon King this tower waited for has always been Alexie?" muttered Dorian with realization once the announcement was over. However, no one could say a word as they were stunned speechless.

Seraphine turned toward the feline and exchanged a knowing nod before rushing toward the enemy. Seeing their dash, the two armies rushed to do the same, beginning the first battle in a series of infinite ones.

As he grabbed his spear and rushed forward, Dorian felt once again humbled in the midst of these events. However, unknown pride bloomed in his heart once again for knowing the man who will bring down the gods.