Cordelia didn't like my little remark in the slightest and didn't hesitate to attack me once more as she slashed her sword, launching a large sword wave right for me, prompting me to raise my hand, manifesting a purple palm to combat the rapidly approaching attack. When the two collided, there was a small explosion as they struggled against each other, fighting for supremacy, though after a few moments, they erupted into a large explosion.
"Well, that was a disappointment; even with sword will, you were still overwhelmed by my palm." Remarked Elif lightly with an amused expression as he gazed at Cordelia, who lunged forth, swiftly maneuvering through the water.
Grabbing Hokori, I slashed forward, meeting Cordelia's blade with my own as she pushed against me with all her strength, yet all she could do was budge my arm; my body stood firm against her might. However, I did notice she chipped my blade, causing me to frown slightly.
"Ahh, my competition has been so lackluster that I've been purposely weakening myself by not bothering to upgrade my weapon in hopes I could be given a little challenge." Muttered Elif softly as he gazed at Cordelia, who furiously stared at him through gritted teeth while he faintly smirked.
Blowing Cordelia a kiss, I forced her back before swiftly stepping forward and diverting her blade before stabbing my hilt into her stomach, knocking the air, or in this case, water, out of her. She quickly retaliated with an upward slash but stopped it with my hilt before punching her face, drawing blood as I forced her backward.
"It's impossible to defeat me by yourself, Cordelia." Said Elif lightly with a faint smirk as he yawned in boredom while playing with Hokori, further angering Cordelia.
"I didn't come here to fight you! I came here for my Sister's body!" Stated Cordelia furiously as she wiped the blood off her face while pointing at Elif with her sword, prompting the numerous guards behind her to lunge forth.
As I stared at the approaching guards, I cursed inwardly. While most were Celestials, the vanguard was True Gods, which I could do nothing against; however, this was only a problem because Kar was also present. Maxim could keep Kar busy, but he wouldn't be able to help, and Mandy is also only a True God as well; Of course, I'm confident she could probably take two or even three of them by herself as there is a very strict standard for one to become a Royal guard, but nine is simply too much for her to handle.
Yet, just when I thought we'd be forced to let Cordelia enter the Aether Realm, I sensed an all-too-familiar Qi that caused me to faintly smirk, and given the ugly expression on Kar's face, it seemed he also sensed her.
From seemingly nowhere, two massive, ethereal axes made of Qi traveled through the water, heading directly for the approaching army, carrying with it more than enough power to freeze them in terror at their inevitable death. However, just before two ethereal Axes collided with them, Kar stepped in and stopped them by forming a shield of water; although the two axes looked as if they would destroy the shield, it held firm and managed to resist the attack.
"Your Highness." Said Illumia softly as she deeply bowed towards Elif while storing her blood-red axes in her dimension ring.
"Heh, so that's what your weapons look like." Muttered Elif with a faint smile as he gazed at Illumia, who nodded before silently standing to his left, causing Mandy to step aside.
"Are you going to do this, Elif!?" "Return Sarah to me, and you can retrieve your sister's corpse." Remarked Cordelia and Elif, respectively, as the former viciously glared at the latter, who narrowed his eyes before gesturing to the dimensional rift.
Cordelia didn't say anything further and silently glared at me with fury and hatred, though I couldn't care less; she started this all by allowing Sara to be kidnapped. I'm no fool; even if she claims she had nothing to do with it, I know she did; as someone with a similar position as me, nothing this serious would've happened within Yggdrasil or any city within my Empire without me knowing of it beforehand.
Without mustering a single word, Cordelia turned around and floated away, prompting her entourage of guards to follow behind her as they retreated to Bubble-dome City. Next time, I wouldn't be able to stop them like this as she will come more than prepared, but that's fine; so long as she suffers a loss, I'm satisfied.
"Tsk, you've no one to blame but yourself." Said Elaine softly as he glared at Cordelia before scoffing and returning to his throne.
"Your Highness, I shall return to my post." Said Mandy with a bow as she glanced at Elif, who nodded before flying towards the city.
Taking a few minutes to cool myself, seeing as Cordelia angered me, I exhaled a deep breath and opened my eyes, only to see Illumia kneeling before me with her head down, a rare sight.
"If you're going to apologize for being unavailable, don't. There was no way for either of us to have known Nerthus would've been desperate enough to use an Immortal poison. Honestly, such a thought would've never crossed my mind." Remarked Elif blandly with a shake of his head as he dismissively waved his hand while gazing at Illumia, causing Maxim to tilt his head in confusion.
"Haa, I've never felt so disappointed in myself until I was assigned as your personal assistant, your Highness… I should've refused Her Majesty, more so, she could have given you someone better." Said Illumia softly with a disappointed sigh as she refrained from raising her head while Elif rolled his eyes.
"Well, it's too late now, Illumia; what's done is done. However, if you wish to feel more useful, teach Idonea and Ember how to be a personal assistant." Stated Elif with a wave of his hand as he forced Illumia's chin upwards with his foot while gesturing to the dimensional rift.
"You intend to have Idonea and Ember look after your children in the future, Your Highness? Not Marley?" Asked Maxim curiously as he glanced at Marley, Idonea, and Ember before looking at Elif, who silently stared at him before grunting.
"As if I'd allow that horny woman anywhere close to my children. I don't need Marley to corrupt them at the age of six; when I was six, I still saw breasts as pointless spheres of fat connected to women… Of course, now I know how foolish I was and how beautiful they are." Remarked Elif with a scoff as he vehemently shook his head while glancing at Marley, who removed a human's arm with her spear before glancing at Illumia's voluptuous breasts.
"She is a horny woman." Muttered Illumia in agreement as she glanced at Marley before standing up and fixing her dress, showing slightly more cleavage for a certain prince to ogle.
Nodding, I closed my eyes and rested, waiting for Elaine to return so we could continue our plan, as I needed her skills.
___
___
"Ho, I see. Great decision, Cordelia; you join- Tsk, did that bitch end the call?" Said Aurora with a faint smile as he looked at Cordelia's projection, which suddenly vanished, causing him to click his tongue in annoyance.
Storing my crystal ball in my dimension ring, with Cordelia agreeing to work together, all I needed was Tiamat, which could be easier or more difficult depending on my route. I couldn't do the same with Tiamat as I did with Cordelia; it wouldn't work, though maybe I could…
'... Would that work? No, Tiamat is easily angered; ah, I see now. Well, getting her to join will be easy.' Mused Aurora with a thoughtful expression, only for him to smile while nodding in satisfaction.
Compared to the elaborate plan I had with Cordelia, simply tricking Tiamat should be more than enough, and once I got those two on my side, getting the other three wouldn't be difficult.
'Still, I'm skeptical if all six of us could defeat Elif; his strength makes him near invincible.' Thought Aurora with a hardened gaze as he walked through a narrow hallway, only to softly sigh.
"If he can defeat all Six Hegemonies… I'll have no words." Muttered Aurora softly as he rubbed his head before opening a door, revealing a dimly lit jail cell filled with multiple Orcs.
With a clap of my hands, the Orcs quickly stopped what they were doing and exited the cell, their erect crotches covered in juices, a sight that disgusted me. Shifting my gaze, I looked at Sarah, who was lying in a small puddle of white liquid that coated her body; she wore clothes, as they'd long since been ripped off her, and her body had been brutally mutilated.
Her womanhood was bleeding and gaping; the same could be said for her secondary hole and her mouth, which were all leaking the same whitish liquid she lay in. Bruseis and blisters littered her body as well, clearly the Orcs weren't gentle with her, not that I expected them to be.
"Oh wow, to think you've still got tears to cry." Said Aurora with a playful smile as he gazed at Sarah, who silently cried.
"So, will you tell me any of Elif's weaknesses?" Asked Aurora with a curious gaze as he looked at Sarah, staring into her dull and lifeless eyes while she surprisingly smiled.
" ...No." Said Sarah with a genuine smile despite crying as she looked at Aurora, who clicked his tongue.