( Angakok's POV )
Angakok lurked in the shadows of Dombivli city as he observed the proceedings of the Universal Court standing amongst the crowd of commoners.
Ever since his plan to take over Max's body had failed, he had become obsessed with getting revenge.
He wanted to see Max fall into the deepest pits of despair and had spent decades meticulously crafting his plan.
Although only a few days had passed in the real world, after his attack on Max inside the dimensional battlefield, Angakok had excused himself inside the time chamber and had spent close to 45 days inside rebuilding his strength and planning his next attack.
Angakok had also rebuilt his channels in the mortal world and recruited corrupt disciples with the allure of unimpeded shamanic powers.
He used these channels to keep an eye on Max and his activities and it was through these very channels that he found out about Max's imprisonment.
By now it was public knowledge that Asiva was pregnant and the child was undoubtedly that of Max's and hence the reason behind Angakok's visit to Dombivli today was to kill that very wife and child.
Angakok had no idea that Max's trial would coincidence with the day that he was planning to kill Asiva as he delayed his plans to kill the woman as he enjoyed the show of Max being persecuted.
Angakok hoped for Max's image, his reputation and his honor to be tarnished in the court, but when Max claimed that he was not a primordial vampire and the entirety of Dombivli erupted in cheers, Angakok felt a suffocating sense of uneasiness rising in his throat as he left the joyous commoners and changed his focus to the mission at hand.
' Regus Aurelius is a fool, I wonder if all the monarch's of this age are foolish children like him.
I gave Max Rajput to him on a silver plate, but even then he could not persecute the boy properly ' Angakok thought as he vehemently spat curses at both Regus and Max as he made his way towards the Dombivili castle.
For a tier7 god, evading the senses of the patrol guards and physical boundaries such as the tall walls of the castle were no hurdles at all.
He pretty much waltzed in unimpeded and spread his senses thin to detect the location of Asiva.
Detecting her to be in the western garden, sitting amongst a plethora of palace officials that had gathered to watch the simulcast of Max's trial, Angakok walked in hushed steps towards her location.
If his plan today succeeded, he would strike a mental blow to Max so severe that he would undoubtedly fall into a state of depression.
Only then would he understand a sliver of the pain that Angakok had suffered as a result of his failed takeover attempt and Angakok would make sure that he suffered bit by bit until he voluntarily offered his body to Angakok to make that pain go away.
***********
( Meanwhile in the Universal Court )
" Alright, since we are on the subject, please state your real race for the court.
It is unfortunate and peculiar, but I'm unable to get a read of your system panel beyond the title of ' The Primal God '.
So if you are not a primordial vampire, then I must insist that for the integrity of this case you reveal your true race " Hades demanded as he seemed to have a slight inflection to his voice that indicated to Max that this was little over a formality.
Hades had already made his mind about the outcome of this case and now he was just being thorough.
However, for Max revealing his race was a big issue as if it was revealed that the only reason he was able to invalidate Regus's claims of him being a primordial vampire was because of a technicality then this case could be flipped on it's head.
Thankfully, Regus had made a critical mistake when confronting him back at the palace by offering him a way out, and that was exactly what Max was going to use to get back at him.
" I have no qualms about declaring my real race, although I must insist that it is one of the ace cards under my belt and revealing it may lead to severe future problems for me.
But before I do so, I must inform Lord Hades that my race is really not important to this case at all.
Just a day ago, King Regus had summoned me to his chambers and- "
" NOT A WORD MORE BOY, OR I WILL KILL YOU HERE AND NOW! " Regus shouted with rage as his voice trembled with a sense of true panic.
If Max revealed the details of their discussion, Regus's credibility would be completely destroyed!
His integrity as a king, his moral high ground in this case, everything would be for naught if it was discovered that he offered Max a plea deal to let him roam free if and only if he agreed to never eye the throne.
" I will not tolerate impudence in this court King Regus, honestly if you were so worried about the boy airing dirty laundry of yours you could have killed him when he was in your custody.
Don't create unnecessary drama in this court.
Queen, Please mute him " Hades said as he pinched his nose and sighed.
The queen upon the direction of the judge muted Regus Aurelius and despite the best efforts of the vampire monarch he could no longer transmit his voice out of the isolated barrier that he was placed in and despite his best efforts to futilely tear down the barrier, he could not lay a single scratch on it.
The vampire king was shaken and in his frantic state of mind he had forgotten that he was still livestreaming and that his frantic behaviour was for all to see.
The carefully crafted image of Regus as a calm, wise and people loving ruler was slowly crumbling down as his darker side was brought to light by the carefully crafted ploy of Max.
" Please Continue…. " Hades signalled to Max with a sigh as Max grinned evilly and proceeded to deliver the hammer on Regus's glass reputation.