THE GENERAL'S DISGRACED HEIR

The air grew heavier with tension as Lord Salomonis took a measured step back, his cloak sweeping the ground like liquid fire. The dim light of the pavilion cast a spectral glow on his features—the sharp line of his jaw, the glint of mischief in his emerald eyes, and the faint smirk that tugged at his lips. His auburn hair, kissed with streaks of gold, shimmered under the light, giving him an aura of both regality and danger.

"Interesting," Salomonis mused aloud, his gaze fixed on the swirling storm of white aura enveloping David. Around them, the space darkened, the very fabric of the world seeming to bend under the weight of David's presence. "A master-ranked swordsman who can wield formless aura? How extraordinary. Tell me, David, how does one not yet king-ranked achieve such a feat?" His voice was smooth, almost mocking, yet tinged with genuine curiosity.

David's sapphire eyes burned like twin flames as his aura pulsated around him. He didn't let the minister's words rattle him. "I'm not here for a lecture," he said coldly. "Why is a demon standing before me? Speak, or I'll take your head and find my answers elsewhere."

Salomonis raised an eyebrow, his expression equal parts amusement and disbelief. "A demon, you say? My, my. Quite the bold accusation. And here I thought I was merely enjoying a quiet conversation." His tone was laced with condescension, but David could sense the calculated undertone.

David's grip on his obsidian sword tightened as it formed. His thoughts raced as he recalled the legends he had read in his past life on Earth, specifically the

Trials of Valor

chapter where the cataclysm was upon the world. The tales spoke of betrayal and ambition—of the Archon of Warfare, a fierce woman who had mysteriously perished.

Her sister had inherited the throne, only to be thrust into a political marriage orchestrated by their scheming uncle. That marriage had borne a son, but tragedy soon followed as both parents met untimely deaths. The son had risen to power under suspicious circumstances, and whispers of an ancient artifact had surfaced through his hands—the

Eye of Solomon

.

The orb, fractured with intricate patterns, was said to possess the power to summon demons and bind them to its wielder's will. Its appearance had heralded the first wave of demons into the mortal realm. And now, here it was, in the hands of Lord Salomonis. The very sight of it made David's blood boil.

"Stop playing games with me," David snapped, his aura flaring brighter. Shadows rippled like waves under his feet. He pointed toward the glowing artifact that Salomonis had tossed aside earlier. "That orb is proof enough of your nature."

Salomonis sighed dramatically, raising his hands as if surrendering to David's accusations. "You wound me, David," he said, feigning offense. "What could possibly lead you to such a conclusion?"

David's glare hardened, his presence suffocating as his white aura pressed down like the weight of a mountain. "Enough lies. The

Eye of Solomon

isn't something any ordinary man can possess. Only demons—or those who consort with them—would wield such a thing."

For the first time, Salomonis's smirk faltered, replaced by a more serious expression. "I swear upon my great ancestor, Solomon, I am no demon," he said, his voice steady and firm. "And I suggest you think carefully before attacking a minister of a foreign land. Such actions have consequences, young Spross des Banners."

David's jaw clenched. He couldn't afford to act recklessly, especially against someone with Salomonis's political standing. If the minister was telling the truth, any harm done to him could spark a diplomatic crisis. But if he was lying…

Summoning his will, David activated

Celestial Wheel

. His irises shimmered with divine radiance, twin orbs of mystic light that pierced through the veil of deception. The pavilion around them seemed to distort, the edges of reality fracturing under the strain of David's activated skill.

As his gaze locked onto Salomonis, David's divine sight revealed the truth of his mana. He expected to see corruption—a dark, chaotic energy laced with malevolence. But what he found was something else entirely. Salomonis's mana was pristine, a vibrant network of energy untainted by demonic influence. It pulsed rhythmically, a testament to his mortal nature but something more.

David blinked, disbelief washing over him. "Impossible," he muttered. His celestial sight never lied. If Salomonis bore no corruption, then he wasn't a demon. But how could a mortal possess the

Eye of Solomon

and remain unscathed?

Salomonis chuckled, the sound low and amused. "I see you've discovered the truth. I am no demon, David. And yet, you continue to threaten me. Why?"

David's hand lingered near the hilt of his summoned obsidian sword. His instincts screamed at him to strike, but logic held him back. "Then explain yourself," he demanded. "How did you come to possess the orb?"

Salomonis tilted his head, his smirk returning. "The

Eye of Solomon

is a tool, nothing more. Yes, its history is dark, but not all who wield it are consumed by its power. I, dear David, am different."

David wasn't convinced. His aura swirled protectively around him, the edges of his domain space crackling with suppressed energy. "You expect me to believe that you, a mere minister, wield one of the most dangerous artifacts in existence without consequence?"

Salomonis stepped forward, his presence calm yet commanding. "Believe what you will... Family inheritance if you will. But if you truly wish to know the truth, I suggest we postpone this little standoff. For now."

David's eyes narrowed. "And why would I do that?"

Salomonis gestured toward the horizon, where the faint glow of the golden coast shimmered in the distance. "Because we are not alone," he said cryptically.

A chill ran down David's spine. He reached out with his senses, his aura probing the shadows that surrounded them. The air felt… wrong. As though something ancient and malevolent was stirring, just out of sight.

"What do you mean?" David asked, his voice low.

Salomonis's expression grew grim. "Let's just say the

Eye of Solomon

isn't the only relic of interest in Leviathan's Abyss. And if we don't tread carefully, we may both regret it."

David didn't lower his guard, but the gravity of Salomonis's words gave him pause. Whatever secrets the minister held, it seemed they were only the beginning of something far greater. And as the shadows around them deepened, David couldn't shake the feeling that the true battle was yet to come.

David's aura slowly receded, the oppressive storm of white light curling back into his body like a slumbering beast. The obsidian sword in his hand dissolved into motes of shadow, vanishing without a trace. The faint glimmer of approval in Salomonis's eyes did not go unnoticed by David, but he kept his expression guarded, his thoughts racing. Salomonis's aura remained untainted, and the truth revealed by

Celestial Wheel

was irrefutable, yet the presence of the

Eye of Solomon

in his possession was a puzzle that demanded answers.

Salomonis gestured toward the stone bench beneath the pavilion's canopy, his movements fluid and calm, like a man in full control of his situation. "Come, young swordsman. Sit. There is no need for further dramatics. Let us speak like civilized men, shall we?"

David hesitated, his instincts warning him against lowering his guard, but the weight of unanswered questions urged him to comply. He lowered himself onto the bench, his posture tense but composed, his blue eyes locked onto Salomonis with an intensity that would unnerve most men.

Salomonis joined him, his cloak fanning out elegantly as he sat. "Fascinating," he murmured, his gaze lingering where David's sword had dissipated moments before. "A blade forged not of steel, but of will itself. A rare skill, even among king-ranked swordsmen. Yet here you are, wielding it as a master-ranked warrior. Truly, you are full of surprises."

David ignored the compliment, his voice sharp. "Enough about me. You called the

Eye of Solomon

a family inheritance. So it's true, then? You are descended from the noble blood of Solomon?"

Salomonis leaned back, a faint smirk playing at his lips. "Ah, so you do know of my lineage. Few outside the Golden county would. But yes, you are correct. The blood of Solomon flows through my veins, though it is but a shadow of what it once was."

David's eyes narrowed, his mind piecing together fragments of the legends he had read on Earth. "And the

Eye of Solomon

? A fractured artifact capable of summoning demons—it doesn't exactly seem like something a noble family would treasure. How did it come to be your inheritance?"

Salomonis's expression darkened, the humor fading from his features. He folded his hands in front of him, his tone suddenly grave. "The

Eye

is both a gift and a curse. It has been passed down through my family for generations, a relic of our ancestor's folly. Solomon was a man of unparalleled ambition, a man who sought power beyond mortal comprehension. The

Eye

was his creation, born of his genius… and his hubris."

David frowned, his thoughts turning to the

Trials of Valor

. The artifact's connection to demons was undeniable, and Salomonis's casual explanation only deepened his suspicions. "If it's such a dangerous artifact, why keep it? Why not destroy it?"

Salomonis chuckled, the sound devoid of mirth. "Do you think no one has tried? The

Eye

is indestructible, a fragment of something far greater. To wield it is to court disaster, yet to abandon it is to invite it into the hands of those who would misuse it."