Chapter 342: The Devil’s Bargain (1)
Time usually passed quickly.
But not in the barren lands of the Ultras.
Especially for the Elite Class students, who had been scattered chaotically across the dark continent.
Each one of them was forced into their own journey, far from home... on the other side of the world.
"Ultras" — a term used to describe the fanatical, demon-worshiping traitors who had once turned their backs on humanity and sold their souls to the devils.
Here, most of the low-blood humans lived in misery, stripped of all dignity and civilization, left to roam like rabid dogs.
And now, the Elite students had finally come into contact with the eternal enemies who had long hunted them.
Those who survived this pit of death would undoubtedly emerge stronger — assuming they survived at all.
After all, who could predict what fate the Witch’s Game — which had finally begun to unfold — would bring?
Among them... on a night when the moon finally pierced the clouds...
In an isolated patch of this death-ridden land, sitting atop a heap of mutilated, bloody corpses ..
The rogue prince calmly wiped his blade clean of both black and red blood, wearing his usual faint smile.
Aegon, who had been randomly teleported during the initial transfer, had found himself surrounded by a squad of mutated humans trying to rip him apart.
He killed them all with ease.
He hadn’t left the area since. Instead, he remained seated for hours, as if he were waiting for something.
And after yet another hour, something changed.
Aegon raised his head and smiled, his eyes fixed on a shadowed corner of the ruins.
"I have to admit... no one’s ever made me wait this long before."
His words were directed at the old man who stepped out of the darkness.
Dressed in tattered black rags .. a weathered kimono and faded pants tied around the waist with a sheathed katana .. barefoot, with messy long black hair, the man emerged into the moonlight and faced the prince.
"Sorry. I don’t really care for important folks’ special appointments."
The old man chuckled, pulling out a familiar flask from his waistband.
"I eat when I’m hungry. I drink when I’m thirsty. I sleep when I’m tired... and I fight when I have to. But I’ll admit—I might’ve shown up earlier if you were a pretty princess instead of a rogue prince."
The drunken old man let out a hearty laugh.
Aegon, still crouched atop the mountain of corpses, smiled as he looked down at him.
"That’s certainly a unique way to live—doing whatever you want, whenever you want... especially when you’ve got the power to back it up. Lord Mergo."
"I’m just a speck in this vast universe. My strength is insignificant. Hardly worth talking about."
Mergo, the Lord of the Dark Hive, seemed as carefree as ever.
But Aegon’s eyes stayed locked on him .. curious, as if he were seeing something different... something that didn’t match the image of a drunken old fool.
"I must say, I admire your outlook, Lord Mergo. But I wonder... is that really all there is to you?"
"What are you getting at?"
"You can’t fool my eyes so easily. I know you’re more than what you pretend to be... You’re special."
"You’re giving me too much credit."
Mergo shook his head with the same clumsy attitude, but his sharp eyes observed Aegon with equal interest.
The description Aegon used for Mergo could just as easily apply to himself. Behind that royal face, the prince hid more than most could imagine.
"Let’s get to the point," Mergo said. "I trust you brought something worth our time."
Aegon nodded.
"Of course. It would’ve gone faster if Beatrice hadn’t taken her sweet time."
"That crazy woman?" Mergo sighed. "Unfortunately, she’s the one handling your little group now. You’re already pieces in her game."
Beatrice—neither a Lord nor a Hollow—seemed to have amassed considerable influence among the Ultras.
"I suppose the Empire and my idiot father have finally made their move? Otherwise, why take this long just to deal with a bunch of kids from the Elite Class?"
Mergo chuckled at how Aegon referred to his classmates—despite being one of them himself—but he confirmed the prince’s guess.
"You’re exactly right."
With a heavier tone, Mergo declared:
"The war has already begun on the eastern front. The Empire launched a full-scale assault to retrieve their young talents."
For the first time in ages, the Empire had become the aggressor—baited into enemy territory by the Ultras.
"Then should you really be wasting time here with me, if what you say is true?"
"No need to worry. We unleashed a starving beast that won’t rest until it’s devoured every last one of them... A beast named Pontiff Sulyvahn. Alongside two other Hollows and Madam A, who has joined them."
"The war is already burning that hot?"
Aegon scratched his head, feigning nonchalance, though clearly intrigued by what was unfolding across the continent.
"I wouldn’t call it a war. It’s more of a game."
After all, everything that had happened so far...
Had been planned and staged in advance.
"I agree with you on that."
Aegon’s gaze drifted past Mergo, landing on something—or someone—lurking behind him.
"Now that everyone’s here, we can finally begin."
Right as he said that, a tall man emerged from the darkness, dressed in a fine suit and long coat, followed by a group of men who remained behind him. Mergo was the first to greet his fellow lord.
"Lord Lindman. Welcome to this filthy swamp."
"Mergo..."
With a scowl, Gavid Lindman walked past his peer and locked eyes with Aegon.
"Let’s get this over with. Do you have the keys?"
Aegon nodded.
"There’s no need to rush. Everything is prepared... though I can only guarantee two of the keys."
"We’ve already secured the others," Gavid replied as he pulled a strange metallic bracelet from inside his cloak.
"Madam A recovered the Moonlight key. And a certain guest delivered the Starlight key to us."
At the mention of that second key, an old man stepped forward from among Gavid’s followers and bowed deeply.
"I offer my service to the Higher Blood."
The elderly man, with long white hair and a pristine beard, was no stranger to Aegon—who couldn’t help but let out a mocking laugh.
"Well, well... look who we have here. Isn’t that the Immortal Lion of House Starlight? Hehehe."
The old man was none other than Leonides Starlight, the former patriarch who abandoned everything the moment he lost to Ada.
"Leonides Starlight has pledged his allegiance to the Higher Blood and proven his worth. He shall have what he desires," Gavid declared.
"My gratitude, my lord," Leonidas said, still bowing—never once showing his face.
"Immortal Lion? They should’ve called you the Immortal Cat," Aegon snorted.
Leonides pursed his lips, humiliated by the prince’s ridicule.
"Tell me, Leonides... how does it feel to have your face in the dirt after turning your back on your family? Do you feel proud?"
"..."
He said nothing. But Aegon could easily read everything through his body language.
"A pathetic, filthy coward. Immortality is the only part of your title you managed to live up to, you damn cat who’s lived 150 years yet failed to beat a little girl—Pfftt hahahaa!"
Aegon burst into laughter, and Leonides began to tremble.
Trying to retort, the former head of House Starlight reached for his blade—only to be pinned to the ground by a crushing wave of pressure from Gavid Lindman.
"What were you about to do, Leonides?"
With crimson eyes filled with killing intent, Gavid froze him in place.
"My deepest apologies..."
On his knees, Leonides bit his lip in frustration, unable to escape the miserable state he’d fallen into.
"Yes, that’s it! Stay down. Groveling suits you."
"That’s enough."
Impatient, Gavid raised the second key beside the first.
"We’ve recovered the bracelets of House Starlight and House Moonlight. This had better not be a waste of time, Aegon Valerion."
Aegon gave a slight nod, unfazed by Gavid’s thinly veiled threat.
"There are four keys—each entrusted to the three great houses, and the royal family, just as I told you."
Aegon then revealed two more identical bracelets.
"I acquired the key of House Valerion, and the one belonging to my vassals in House Sunlight. That makes all four pieces complete."
Gavid couldn’t hide his hunger as he stared at the remaining keys.
With these bracelets... they could finally release him.
Smiling, Aegon affirmed it once more.