"Another loss, huh." The Halloween Queen shook her head with a sigh. To be defeated twice in a row by the same person was something she had never experienced before. "So it seems that no matter how strong a Demon Lord may be, there will always come a day when they suffer defeat. The Lord of White Night was like this, and now… so am I."
"No. I will never lose, and I will never allow myself to lose. Defeat means losing everything. That's why I will use any means necessary to claim victory." Riku dropped his smile, speaking in a low, resolute tone.
"Is that so?" The Halloween Queen blinked in surprise, then gave him a meaningful look.' A man with an obsession for victory… just how far can this conviction take him in this world of Disboard?'
At that moment, the chessboard dissolved into light. A parchment scroll materialised once again, landing softly in Riku's hand.
[Gift Game: Predatory Chess — Ended! Winner: Riku Dola of Disboard. Reward: Slavery rights over the Halloween Queen.]
At the same time, Riku's body returned completely to normal.
"Queen, welcome to Disboard." Riku smiled faintly, reaching out to gently touch her fair, flawless cheek.
This time, the Halloween Queen's Interstice no longer blocked his hand, allowing him to touch her face directly.
"This sensation… It's the first time." The Halloween Queen whispered softly. From the moment of her birth, no one had ever been able to touch her. And now, with her slavery rights in Riku's hands, she could not resist him in the slightest.
"Is that so? Then I suppose I should feel honoured, taking your 'first time,' Queen." Riku chuckled.
"The way you phrase it is really… delicate." The Halloween Queen couldn't help but retort.
Just then, the familiar sound of a [System Notification] echoed in Riku's mind.
[ Ding! Condition to unlock the [Rainbow Treasure Chest]: Break through the Queen's first time.]
"..." Hearing that, Riku's face instantly darkened. 'The hell is this…? Seriously, system? After finally gaining the right to touch the Halloween Queen and thinking I could finally unlock the [Rainbow Treasure Chest], you throw out a condition like this? You're trying to kill me here.'
"What is it?" The Halloween Queen frowned slightly, noticing how his hand lingered on her cheek as his expression kept shifting.
"Uh…" Riku snapped back to himself, pulling his hand away, staring at the Halloween Queen with a conflicted look.
He now possessed her slavery rights. If he wished, she couldn't resist him. But to force such a thing upon her… with her pride, there'd be no hope of peace within the community afterwards.
Yet, to say he didn't want her would be a lie. Her exquisite, flawless figure lingered in his mind.
'Forget it. Sacrificing our relationship just for a [Rainbow Treasure Chest] isn't worth it.' Riku sighed inwardly, pushing down his reckless thoughts. Whether it was the Halloween Queen, the Lord of White Night, Athena, or Poseidon, once they'd entered his den, they would never leave. But such things… should be mutual.
"Looks like you really are interested in my body after all." Just as Riku tried to let go of those thoughts, the Halloween Queen suddenly cast a glance at him, elegant yet filled with allure and teased.
"Any normal man would be interested in a woman as breathtaking as you." Though Riku wasn't sure what she meant by this, he followed his true feelings and replied without hesitation.
"Oh? Is that so? I wouldn't think so. After all, the gods always step aside when they see me." The Halloween Queen smiled knowingly.
Riku rolled his eyes. 'With your reputation, who would even dare think about it?'
"If you wish, I don't mind." The Halloween Queen suddenly added with calm grace. "After all, I am now your slave."
"Pfft!" Riku spat out the tea he had just sipped, staring at her in shock. 'Wait, wait, wait, seriously? That open-minded!?'
The Halloween Queen casually waved her hand, using her Interstice to wipe away the spilt tea. She looked directly at him, smiling faintly. "Is there a problem?"
"Don't misunderstand. Even though I do like you, I won't force such a command." Though tempted, Riku couldn't help but explain.
"In matters like this, honesty is better." Her beautiful eyes shimmered with a strange light as she met his gaze. "I can see your possessiveness is strong. Since I lost, I doubt I can escape your grasp anyway. This sort of thing… It's only a matter of time."
Riku was left speechless. 'Women who are too perceptive… are truly troublesome.'
"Besides, I also have thoughts about you. Though I am a Star Spirit, a Demon Lord, I am still a woman. I, too, can be drawn to a powerful man." The Halloween Queen said with graceful poise. "And you are the only one who meets my standards."
"If I were to share your bed, perhaps I would come to know more of your secrets and satisfy my curiosity. Since I can't escape you, why not be clear about our relationship? Besides…" She smirked softly. "Having lost to you twice already in both strength and wisdom… in other areas, I still want to claim victory over you."
Riku was at a loss for words. 'As expected of one of the three Problem Children… even in this, she's so daring.'
But since the Halloween Queen had said so much, not to act now would hardly be manly. Not only would she look down on him, Riku himself would despise his own hesitation.
Without further delay, Riku scooped the Halloween Queen's flawless body into his arms, tossed her onto the white silk bed, and pressed her down.
He indulged himself in the body of the queen whom all the gods of the Little Garden feared.
The white bed creaked rhythmically, and the sound of their clash filled the room, stirring boundless, indescribable emotions.
Neither Riku nor the Halloween Queen were an ordinary being, and with their unwillingness to yield to each other, neither had any intention of stopping.
As Riku and the Halloween Queen plunged into their unrelenting battle, the entire Little Garden was shaken by the uproar he had caused.
Everywhere, beings discussed Disboard versus Olympus Twelve Gods, and how Riku alone had annihilated Zeus and his divine army.
As expected, just like Riku had predicted, his fame and momentum had soared to the peak. Countless communities flocked to the Skyborne City to settle, while even many unruly lone powerhouses, swayed by his overwhelming presence, came to observe and considered joining the Disboard.
This left Athena busier than ever. Even she couldn't help but complain that their so-called leader, Riku, was being far too irresponsible, dumping everything onto her.
After three days and three nights of battle, Riku had finally and completely conquered the proud Halloween Queen.
Holding her exhausted body as she slept, nestled against his chest, Riku exhaled in satisfaction, though slightly weary.
"At last… victory. Time to open this [Rainbow Treasure Chest]." Riku muttered.
He had fought hard to gain the slavery rights over the Halloween Queen, finally able to pass through her Interstice and touch her body, fulfilling the absurd condition to unlock the [Rainbow Treasure Chest]. If it turned out to be trash after all that, Riku swore he'd tear the damned system apart.
Of course, he knew it couldn't possibly be garbage.
A [Diamond Treasure Chest] already had a high probability of yielding rare treasures befitting its level, though sometimes rotten luck meant pulling something as ridiculous as a pair of panties.
But a [Rainbow Treasure Chest] that was guaranteed to contain something beyond heaven-defying.
As Riku consciously touched the chest, the small [Rainbow Treasure Chest] at the Halloween Queen's abdomen opened, releasing a brilliant multicoloured radiance.
At that moment, the [System Notification] resounded in his mind once again.
[ Ding! Congratulations, Master, for opening the [Rainbow Treasure Chest]. You have obtained: [Plunder Card]. ]
[Plunder Card]: A single-use item. Allows you to seize one target's ability or even their very existence. (Note: Valid only against those at the two-digit full authority domain or below.)
"A [Plunder Card]… the ability to steal even existence itself? This thing is insane. Definitely worthy of being one of my ultimate trump cards." Riku rubbed his chin, marvelling.
"A little tired now. Guess I'll get some rest too."
Placing the [Plunder Card] into the System Storage Space, Riku closed his eyes, holding the queen's delicate body close.
The next day, above the flag of Disboard fluttering proudly in the Skyborne City, another banner appeared: the flag of Queen Halloween.
Its appearance immediately caused a stir among the communities of Skyborne City. Because the Queen Halloween banner was positioned just behind that of Disboard, it clearly symbolised allegiance.
The storm that had only just calmed now flared up once more. Discussions about Disboard spread like wildfire, with countless speculations about Riku's relationship with the Halloween Queen.
In the Third Layer of the Little Garden, within the headquarters of Thousand Eyes
Though Thousand Eyes was known as the largest commercial community in the Little Garden, no one doubted its immense combat power. After all, its leader, the Twin Goddesses, were beings who had once shattered the Last Trial of Humanity's Spirit Rank itself.
At that moment, inside a room in the headquarters, the Lord of White Night heard the news and snapped open her folding fan with a smirk full of mischief. "So that idiot queen actually lost in the end? Hmph, that gives me yet another reason to mock her."
"You look rather pleased, Lord of White Night."
Opposite her sat a voluptuous beauty in a crimson cheongsam, her allure not inferior to the Lord of White Night's. But it was her eyes glistening as though they could pierce past, present, and future that drew anyone in without escape. She was none other than the great demon with the title of Laplace, the All-Seeing Demon.
It was precisely some of Laplace's prophecies upon awakening that had driven the Twin Goddesses to summon all high-ranking cadres for an emergency meeting.
The result: the Lord of White Night was placed under house arrest.
"Is that so?" Laplace gazed at her with thoughtful eyes.
In her slumber, she had foreseen a terrifying vision of the future
A man whose figure could not be clearly seen, bearing the [Last Trial of Humanity: Final Logos], becoming the mightiest Demon Lord, one of the ultimate trials of mankind.
The [Winds of the End] swept across, annihilating millions of divine hosts, slaughtering even countless gods and Buddhas. The skies and earth were stained with divine blood, turning into a living hell.
At the same time, another banner appeared, pure white brilliance spreading across the Little Garden, shaking its very foundation. Despair filled the world. The scene cut off abruptly.
The sheer terror of the vision had forced Laplace awake, drenched in cold sweat.
In the end, Laplace had no choice but to reveal her prophecy to the Twin Goddesses.
The matter of a Last Trial of Humanity was far too grave to be ignored; even the Twin Goddesses dared not take it lightly, immediately convening the high council.
And because the prophecy suggested a faint connection between the Lord of White Night and the possible future Last Trial of Humanity, she had been placed under restriction.
"Let me ask you, Lord of White Night… are you truly familiar with Riku Dola, the leader of this newly risen community, Disboard?" Laplace asked after a pause.
The Lord of White Night snapped her folding fan shut, her gaze sharpening as she looked at Laplace. Though their relationship had once been fairly good, this incident left her feelings toward Laplace complicated.
"We didn't know each other before. But during the Sun Authority War… after crossing blades, we came to understand one another." The Lord of White Night replied coolly.
"I see." Laplace gave a faint, bitter smile. Since the matter concerned a Last Trial of Humanity, she had no choice but to be cautious. Still, it seemed her actions had earned the Lord of White Night's ire.
Just days ago, the Lord of White Night, in her fury, had nearly blown up the headquarters of Thousand Eyes.
"…By the way, Christianity has begun to move." Seeking to shift the heavy mood, Laplace spoke again with a sigh.
"Oh?" The Lord of White Night narrowed her eyes and looked over.
"That Riku possesses the [Longinus: Spear of Godslayer] and even created angels through some special method. After their exposure in the last battle, Christianity has learned of it." Laplace explained calmly. "In the Little Garden, Christianity is a taboo. Since Riku has touched their taboo, they clearly cannot let it slide. They've already begun their response."
"What exactly are they planning?" asked the Lord of White Night, frowning.
"God has demanded that Riku lead Disboard to submit under Christianity, essentially an attempt to annexe them," Laplace said with a peculiar expression.
"Hahaha! Those fools are truly arrogant." The Lord of White Night broke into unrestrained laughter. "With the Olympus Twelve Gods already serving as an example, and now that that idiot queen has also joined Disboard… do they really think they can win?"
"This isn't about winning or losing. It's about necessity. They must handle Disboard. If Riku is allowed to exist freely, their prestige will plummet and the weight of their taboo will become meaningless." Laplace shook her head with a sigh. "The Little Garden is growing more chaotic by the day."
"That's true." The Lord of White Night tapped her folding fan against her palm, her eyes shining with excitement. "But what I'm most curious about is Riku's reaction. Knowing that brat, he'll never bow his head."
"…Yes. That's exactly what worries me." Laplace said, her tone even more complicated.