Wolf of the Blood Moon - Book 4 - Intermission 2 (Patreon)

                                            The Throne Room of the Demon King’s Castle
                                                                   One Month Later

Lucius, otherwise known as The Reaper, sits in silence with a book open in one hand as one of the many dukes in the room – he forgets their name – speaks of the most recent war update from Earth to the Royal Court, “As you all are well aware, we have been pushed back over two dozen kilometers during the past month thanks to the Princess’s interference in the war. During this time, we have lost over ten million Class I through III demons to her plagues and the rest of the humans taking advantage of Her Highness’s kindness. However, we have also managed to send another fifteen million Class I through III demons through the several hundred Gates that have opened up all throughout the continent we have claimed.”

The Reaper glances at the Demon King, who he finds sitting on the throne with an indifferent look in his eyes. The same look that he’s had since he made his agreement with the Princess.

His motivation for seeing this war through… seems to have decreased.

“While Her Highness has caused a vast number of casualties amongst our numbers, she isn’t the only one,” some duchess Lucius can’t remember the name of and doesn’t feel like bothering to identify them to find out says from the other end of the long table from him. “Amongst the humans, all of the Class Vs are taking down just as many of our number, even with our own Nobles keeping them in line.” Lucius’s eyes narrow slightly when she glances towards the Lord of Hellfire and adds, “But their Knights are dealing too big a blow to our Nobles every time we send them out. At this rate we won’t be able to keep up on the high level playing field for long.”

“Your Majesty, might I make a request?” another duke asks, bringing The Reaper’s gaze towards the King, who is finally narrowing his eyes, showing more attention to the matters at hand.

“You may, duke Varner,” the Demon King states, his voice echoing coldly through the throne room.

“I would like to request we send one of the Demon Lords through the Demon Isle Gate once it charges up enough energy in five years’ time,” duke Varner suggests, piquing Lucius’s interest just a little bit. And it’s not just him as the man’s suggestion raises whispers from all around the throne room. But each of the whispers cut off the instant the Demon King taps a single extended claw against his throne, filling the room with nothing but silence.

Lucius watches his old friend for a few seconds, finding the man seemingly seriously considering the man’s request.

It would take at least five years of not using the Class V Gate in Demon Isle at all to build up enough energy for it. The man would never have considered that if it weren’t for the deal, but now that he can’t send as many Nobles anyways, and we have the other Gates all over the continent opened for the lower Class demons to pass through…

“Very well,” the Demon King declares, his eyes narrowing on Lucius and the other three Demon Lords sitting at opposite edges of the long table set place at the center of the throne room and stretching across the hall with ease. Then, after a few seconds of consideration, the Demon King finally turns his gaze towards Lucius, making him stiffen up ever so slightly before he states, “Lucius Tor de Blackheart, I am hereby ordering you to travel to Earth the moment the Gate gathers enough reality energy to make it possible. Will you obey?”

Lucius meets his Liege’s eyes directly for several seconds, his own pitch block orbs staring into the glowing red abyss that is His Majesty’s gaze, before he eventually comes to a decision and closes his book with a snap that echoes throughout the throne room. Then he slowly stands up from his seat, his gaze remaining locked on the King’s the entire time until he finally says, “I will, Your Majesty.”

Whispers run throughout the throne room until Lucius runs his eyes over the dukes and duchesses, making each of them shiver in fear from the hunger ever present in his gaze. But after making eye contact with the last duke, he turns his gaze back to the Demon King.

“Your goal when you arrive on Earth will be to eliminate three out of five of the Knights of Humanity,” the Demon King says, surprising many in the room judging by the looks on their faces. Something Lucius guesses to be due to his targeting only three of the Knights and not all five. “You are to kill the Black, Purple, and Red Knights of Humanity, and capture the White and Blue Knight alive.” His eyes narrow slightly as his Blood Domain begins spreading through the throne room. “No permanent incurable harm is to come to the White Knight of Humanity, but you can do as you please with the Blue Knight as long as he is alive when he arrives.”

The Princess’s uncle and her mother. Understandable.

Before The Reaper can respond, he turns to look at The Devourer, who had stirred slightly from her nap at the mention of the Blue Knight of Humanity.

Right. If I’m not mistaken, the Lady of Devouring was the one responsible for devouring that Knight’s emotions.

Lucius’s eyes narrow for a second before he focuses on the Demon King again and says, “Very well, Your Majesty. Your will be done.”

I do wonder though, will Her Highness return to Tartarus to find her mother and uncle living well and with her uncle’s emotions back? Or will the Blue Knight fall prey to the Devourer’s maw once more?

The Reaper ponders over this for little more than a brief second before looking around the room once more and then reopening his book in a lethargic motion, denying his hunger throughout the process.

Then he begins reading once more, ignoring the rest of the Court Session.

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