Awakening The Only SSS-Rank Class! Now Even Dragons Obey Me Chapter 796: Before the Storm

The heavy chamber door shut behind Elisira with a muffled thud.

A metallic clinking resonated in the quiet space before silence reclaimed everything.

Her chamber remained as it always was: walls of white adorned with gold, tall silk drapes filtering moonlight, fragrant candles, plush royal carpets, and a grand window overlooking the entirety of the holy capital.

Yet, it all appeared different now. No longer was it merely a princess's room; it felt like a gilded cage, its beautiful construction almost masking the prisoner's chains until it was too late.

For several moments, Elisira stood motionless and silent, her thoughts still lingering in the forest, replaying her actions and conversation with her father.

While not the first time she'd been confined, this instance carried a gravity unmatched, her father's command issued with uncharacteristic severity.

She recognized the foolishness of her words, the transgression of her boundaries, and her lack of mindfulness in speaking.

"It's all Father's fault! If he hadn't angered me, why would I have uttered such things?" she sighed, moving quietly towards the window.

Pushing the curtain aside, she gazed out at the city below.

The holy capital remained abuzz; thousands of lights twinkled along the streets. Knights patrolled the main avenues, and even from such a distance, the city's disquiet was palpable.

New edicts were posted on walls, warning flags fluttered from towers, and the populace, in hushed, anxious tones, spoke of a single name: the forest beast, the entity responsible for the demise of an Eternal Warrior.

"They truly don't understand..." Elisira softly closed her eyes.

Indeed, none of them comprehended. Not her father, not the world at large. They were manufacturing an adversary from nothing.

What she had witnessed within that forest transcended mere fear. Daniel was not simply powerful; he seemed an entity unbound by this world's conventional logic.

Why would they seek to create an enemy of such a being, one who harbored no malice towards anyone? Why not simply leave him be?

And worse, the accursed tree they intended to destroy might represent the world's sole path to salvation. With each repetition of this thought, a heavier burden settled within her.

For if this assertion held truth, then the empire risked extinguishing the very means of the world's rescue.

Yet, Serius's words also echoed in her mind. If the tree was not malevolent, why did it consume life force? Such an act was inherently wicked.

"Ugh, I can't comprehend it anymore." A searing headache consumed her, and she abandoned the effort to think.

Confined as she was, she might at least seek solace in slumber to calm her frayed nerves.

But at that precise moment...

Tap.

A delicate sound emanated from beyond the door. Elisira whirled around instantly.

Tap tap.

This time, the sound was clearer, and then the chamber doors swung open slowly. For an instant, Elisira's eyes widened in surprise.

Only two individuals possessed the privilege of entering her quarters without prior arrangement.

Her father.

And her elder sister, the rightful heir to the empire, the one chosen by the Divine Prophet years prior to become her senior disciple.

However, her sister was not supposed to be within the palace at this time.

Thus, as the doors fully opened, Elisira immediately grasped that her suspicion was correct.

That woman was absent.

Instead, the ancient librarian entered the room. Clad in a simple gray robe, he shuffled his worn wooden staff across the floor.

The same quiet, overlooked old man whose name most did not even know. But this fact only deepened Elisira's frown.

"...How did you gain entry permission?"

"An interesting inquiry, Princess." The old man offered a subtle smile.

And then, without seeking it, he calmly stepped into the chamber.

"Especially considering you know that currently, no one in the palace is permitted near you."

Elisira's gaze sharpened. There was an unnerving difference in the old man's demeanor. He exuded an unshakeable calm, utterly unfazed by the current circumstances, which was itself cause for concern. But before she could voice another question... the old man spoke:

"Perhaps you could enlighten me on everything you know regarding that tree's guardian?"

Concurrently, deep within the subterranean levels of the Holy Palace.

Far beneath the royal chambers and pristine temples lay a concealed room, revealed only during dire emergencies.

Massive stone walls, ethereal floating maps, sealed arcane relics, and dozens of enigmatic instruments emitting a soft azure luminescence defined the space.

The atmosphere within was thick with the palpable anxiety shared by those assembled.

The Holy Emperor stood behind the central table, with Serius positioned beside the continental map.

The Grand Minister was engrossed in examining informational scrolls, while the Grand Knight remained stoically at attention, arms crossed, his gaze fixed on the reports from the forest.

"The eastern borders have been sealed." The Grand Minister's voice pierced the room's oppressive silence.

"Regional armies have been summoned, and all information regarding the forest has been classified at a secret level."

They were preparing for a war situation and wanted to control the narrative to prevent chaos and panic on the continent.

"But it doesn’t matter anymore." He paused for a moment, and his frown deepened.

The Emperor raised his gaze.

"The news of Walterk’s death has already spread within the empire." The Grand Minister continued.

The room’s atmosphere grew heavier.

"And within a few days at most... the entire continent will know about it."

The Grand Knight quietly clenched his fist, because everyone knew what this meant. Walterk was not just a powerful warrior; he was an Eternal Warrior.

A being people thought was invincible, a being who served as a hope for this continent to win against the beasts of corruption.

And now the entire continent would learn that something exists that destroys even an Eternal Warrior like an insect.

"And unfortunately, there is no way to stop the news from spreading." The Grand Minister sighed heavily.

They had first wanted to let the news spread. That way, perhaps they could get more help from the continent’s other powers, but they realized that might not be a good idea.

The continent had recently become stable and peaceful, and they had managed to gain some calm after decades of fighting the beasts of corruption at the borders.

People no longer lived in fear, or at least that was the case until today. Unfortunately, with the spread of Walterk’s death, terror will again take over everywhere.

It wasn’t that they wanted to hide the news of his death forever, but rather to slightly distort and rewrite it.

A brief silence followed.

"Was it really right to imprison the Princess?" Then the Grand Knight asked quietly, changing the subject.

"My daughter is not the problem." The Holy Emperor did not hesitate even for a moment.

His gaze slowly fixed on the forest map.

"The problem is that being... has started to influence people."

The Grand Minister’s eyes narrowed slightly, and Serius gave a very faint smile.

The Emperor continued:

"His power is dangerous enough, but if he can also change people’s minds, and someone with faith like my daughter..." His voice grew heavier.

"Then the foundations of the empire will crumble." He had not underestimated this threat at all.

If his daughter could utter such blasphemous words, then that monster might have abilities to influence others.

And that was why he had forbidden the Grand Minister and the Grand Knight from approaching that monster.

"Elisira isn’t just scared." Serius quietly moved away from the window.

All eyes turned to him.

"She has started to accept the possibility that that monster’s words might be true." And then he said a sentence that made even the room’s air grow colder.

"And that is more dangerous than his power itself."

Because if people doubted the sacred narrative, if even the empire’s princess had become hesitant...

Then what would remain of sacred authority?

It’s true that it’s only Elisira for now, but such a narrative could grow like a cancer cell, and if not stopped from the beginning, the result would be devastating.

The Holy Emperor was silent for a few moments.

"Tomorrow I will personally meet with the Divine Prophet." Then he said quietly.

Even the Grand Minister raised his head.

Because everyone knew that a meeting with the Divine Prophet was not something even the Emperor could easily request. That being had almost separated from the world, more like a living concept than a human. And that showed just how critical the situation had become.

"I also spoke with my master." But then Serius said quietly.

The room immediately fell silent. Even the Grand Knight unconsciously raised his gaze, because Serius’s master was a Half Step-Divine.

A being before whom even Eternal Warriors looked like children.

"What did your master say?" The Holy Emperor asked quietly. If a Half Step-Divine intervened, this disaster could end sooner.

Serius was silent for a few moments.

"He said this matter is of no importance and that we should figure it out ourselves." Then he said with a bitter smile.

The Emperor sighed quietly. So this matter had not yet reached a level that would force the Half Step-Divines to intervene.

And that might be the worst of all, because it meant they had to face a monster themselves that they couldn’t even understand.

"Your Imperial Majesty... I have a proposal." Suddenly the Grand Minister stepped forward.

The Emperor looked at him.

"Why don’t we ask the Elves and Dragons for help?"

The room fell into silence again, because everyone knew what this meant: non-human powers, races that had stayed away from continental politics for centuries.

"They won't offer aid unless the Divine Prophet personally requests it," the Holy Emperor stated in a low tone.

"And even then, success isn't guaranteed," Serius added, ensuring clarity.

"However, they, along with the Sky Knights Guard, represent our only viable options," the Grand Minister mused, a frown creasing his brow.

"Unless we can find a means to dispatch one of the continent's three mightiest warriors," he then murmured thoughtfully.

The Emperor fell silent, recognizing the truth in the Grand Minister's words. The Sky Knights Guard, a legendary force answering directly to the Divine Prophet.

Their involvement would indeed be possible, should she grant her approval.

But the Elves and Dragons? What about them?

Closing his eyes slowly, the Emperor understood their desires all too well.

"The Life Crystal..." his voice was barely a whisper.

Those beings always sought the same thing. A price point that would strain even the Holy Empire's resources.

"I shall consider it," he replied finally, his voice hushed.

"Why don't we send all of them?" At that precise moment, Serius offered a subtle smile and posed the question.

All attention shifted towards him.

His gaze remained fixed on the map detailing the ravaged forest as he continued speaking softly:

"The Sky Knights Guard."

"The Elves."

"The Dragons."

"And one of the top three warriors."

"With all of them deployed... our probability of success would climb significantly, bordering on certainty." His smile widened, a glimmer of confidence in his eyes.