THE GENERAL'S DISGRACED HEIR

As David delved deeper into Luna's stats and abilities, an overwhelming sense of dread washed over him. His eyes widened in disbelief as the system displayed an array of figures that defied reason. Luna's strength alone was a staggering 650,000—a number that eclipsed the combined might of Noble Elder Scroll and Noble Elder Tyron.

And it wasn't just her strength; none of her other stats fell below the formidable threshold of 100,000. The raw power reflected on the screen made his heart pound, a mix of awe and trepidation coursing through him.

David's gaze flickered to the classification that loomed ominously:

Eldritch

. The title alone sent a shiver crawling down his spine. He had faced formidable foes and encountered beings of unimaginable power, but nothing had prepared him for this revelation. The implications gnawed at the edge of his mind, forcing him to confront an unsettling truth—Luna wasn't merely powerful; she was potentially unstoppable.

What did it mean for someone bound to him to hold such monstrous strength? His thoughts spiraled as he pondered her ranking and what it entailed. If Luna's true power equaled or even surpassed that of a King-ranked swordsman, it positioned her on par with figures as fearsome as Noble Elder La Muerte. David's pulse quickened. The raw comparison was startling, but even that paled in comparison to what he read next.

Her character profile seared into his consciousness:

Imprisoned for her insatiable thirst for blood and destruction, she is the Dweller of Ruin and Devourer of Celestial Bodies.

Each word dripped with a promise of untold devastation. What exactly did "Devourer of Celestial Bodies" mean? Was Luna a sovereign of destruction, an entity with the power to obliterate entire realms? David's mind raced with questions, theories blooming and fading as quickly as they appeared.

He clenched his jaw as realization dawned. The bosses of the Dimension Tower—all of them—were not mere guardians but imprisoned titans, chained away for crimes too vast to comprehend. Luna was proof of this.

The weight of what lay ahead pressed down on him like a leaden shroud. If Luna was only one such entity, what other horrors awaited him should he venture back into that cursed place? The stakes had just risen to a new, dizzying height.

David's hair stood on end, a chill rippling down his spine. The future he had envisioned—his plans, his ambitions—now seemed far more fragile than before. If the Dimension Tower housed beings like Luna, beings who could obliterate worlds, he would need to prepare for battles that transcended mortal understanding. He took a shaky breath, eyes narrowing with determination.

There would be no turning back now.

David's eyes skimmed over Luna's stats, each skill more impressive and imposing than the last. Astral Devourer—an ability so potent it sent shivers racing down his spine—was only the beginning. The names of her skills dripped with power, each one more foreboding than the one before: Lunar Dominion, Void Rebirth, and others that hinted at cosmic destruction.

He felt as though he had barely scratched the surface when the carriage shuddered, pulling him from his thoughts. A jolt of awareness shot through him as he noticed the shift outside.

The world beyond the carriage window was painted with the warm glow of the setting sun, casting a golden hue across the bustling road leading to Lysora County. The sounds of merchants packing their wares and folk speaking in eager tones mingled with the rhythmic clatter of the carriage wheels. Yet the sudden call of, "Hold!" brought a sharp end to the journey's steady pace.

David glanced outside, eyes narrowing as he took in the scene. An escort of knights stood firm, their crimson armor gleaming under the last rays of sunlight. A murmur rippled through the crowd as they cast wary glances at the newcomer's entourage. Before David could ponder further, a gentle knock reverberated against the carriage door.

With practiced ease, David opened it, meeting the gaze of a knight whose face bore the seriousness of duty. "I greet my Lord," the knight spoke, voice deep yet courteous. "May I see your identification papers and know your reasons for visiting Lysora County?"

David didn't hesitate. He reached into his cloak, pulling out a parchment scroll embossed with a wax seal—a slender candle emblem of the De Gor lineage. The knight's eyes widened with recognition as he took the scroll with reverent hands. A flicker of understanding lit his expression, and he quickly dipped into a respectful bow.

"Forgive me for the delay, my Lord," the knight said, the lines of his face softening. "If you would be gracious enough, I must fetch the proper official to escort you to Castrum Belli Et Ignis."

David's gaze held the knight's for a moment, reading the tension that hummed just beneath the surface. A heartbeat passed before David nodded, his tone deliberately casual. "I can spare a moment."

The knight's eyes flashed with relief, and he hurried off, his crimson armor catching the last light as he moved with the urgency of someone who knew the weight of the situation. David leaned back, a smirk tugging at his lips as he watched the onlookers whisper among themselves. The De Gor name held power and curiosity in equal measure.

"Luna," David said softly, turning to where she lay, her dark form blending with the dim interior of the carriage. Her eyes fluttered open, golden irises catching the soft glow filtering in. "We're here. Wake up."

For a moment, she blinked as if surfacing from a deep, restful void. Then, recognition sparked, and she straightened, her gaze sharpening as she took in their surroundings. The weight of her presence filled the confined space, a reminder of the power she wielded and the enigmatic past they shared.

Outside, the sounds of approaching footsteps grew louder, heralding the arrival of an official. David sat back, the subtle tension coiling in his chest as he prepared for whatever lay ahead in Lysora County.