(Bonus Chapter = 100 Power Stones!)
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Illusory Demon Realm, north of the Demon Imperial City, entrance to the Golden Crow Lightning Flame Valley.
At this moment, the deeply silent protective formation suddenly flickered with a scarlet-golden light, and following that, it began to slowly and gently rotate, while two human figures appeared under the light of the Golden Crow's profound formation, as if the space had been torn apart and they had stepped out of a rift.
"We've finally come out." Ren Zu deeply inhaled the air that was no longer scorching.
It had only been three short months, but it felt as though an entire lifetime had passed.
After three months of training, he had finally reached his former cultivation level; he was now at the First Level of the Emperor Profound Realm! His rapid breakthrough was related to the daily absorption of the Nine Suns Jade. If it weren't for this gift given by the Golden Crow, it would have taken him several months to achieve this profound strength...
In addition to his rapid progress in cultivation, he had also created the third stage of the [Slaughter God Art] beyond the second stage he had been working on. This third volume was essentially a "Domain" that every profound practitioner at the level of a 'Throne' could create. Following his spark of inspiration, his domain was essentially the [Malevolent Sanctuary] of the King of Curses, which he had named as such in homage once again.
His domain relentlessly struck anything within its effective range with slashing attacks that were practically infinite.
One thing he realized while creating his "Domain" was that his talent was indeed at the level he had thought when he absorbed the "Prime World Liquid." Essentially, he could copy any Profound Art he saw with his own eyes after witnessing it just once, and if he were to learn it on his own, no matter how complex the Profound Art was, he could master it in a few hours...
Even creating his own profound art, which was a highly complex process, was very easy for him.
That's why he succeeded in his ideas to further develop his personal profound art.
While reflecting on his productive months, a delicate and petite girl stood by his side, reaching only up to his shoulder and wrapped in gray robes. She appeared exactly as delicate as she was, with an extremely beautiful face that could outshine the beauty of the heavens and the earth and the radiance of the sun and moon. But her gaze was completely covered with an endless cold detachment, making it almost impossible to detect any trace of emotion that a living being should possess. And what was most striking was a scarlet-golden flame mark glowing between her eyebrows.
A Demon Emperor who awakened their Golden Crow lineage would have the Golden Crow mark appear between their eyebrows, signifying their status. All the Golden Crow marks on past Demon Emperors were of a faded golden color and could be hidden at any time… But the mark between her eyebrows was a blazing scarlet-golden color that could never be concealed.
Because that mark was burning her life away.
The moment that mark dissipated, it would mean her life energy had been exhausted.
Her entire aura had undergone a tremendous transformation.
He knew what it meant—simply put, the Little Demon Empress beside him had become so powerful that she might have already broken through the limits of this world… becoming so strong that her power had become illusory.
"I thought Duke Ming and that clown would be waiting for us... Or at least have sent someone to keep watch... But there's no one. That's very strange." Ren Zu inspected his surroundings, but he didn't see a single person's figure, nor did he sense the presence of any living creatures. He let out a huge sigh and said, with a calm and detached voice but a glint of concern in his gaze as he glanced at her: "Could something big be happening in the Demon Imperial City?"
"Also… Cai'er, what level have you reached in your cultivation of the Golden Crow's Record of the Burning World?"
He turned his body and asked.
Although the relationship between him and the Little Demon Empress had become completely different from what it used to be, and she even allowed him to call her by such an affectionate name, she had been maintaining a certain distance ever since they left their seclusion, as if the two of them didn't know each other...
"Third level." The Little Demon Empress looked straight ahead, her voice as flat as still water, with not a single fluctuation detectable.
"Oh… I reached the tenth level a few days ago." Ren Zu said with complete seriousness, without pride, just stating something inevitable. His expression was calm, almost indifferent, but his eyes rested gently on her, as if wishing she would notice how much he was still there for her.
He hoped she would at least show a trace of surprise.
Especially since he doubted she even knew there was a Tenth Stage of the Golden Crow's Record of the Burning World, as the records of the Illusory Demon Realm's Royal Family only went up to the seventh stage. The Golden Crow's Soul had explained that it hadn't granted the Tenth Stage to anyone because it hadn't found anyone worthy...
However, he was disappointed, as there wasn't even a slight change in the Little Demon Empress's expression. Her dark, somber eyes remained fixed on the direction of the Demon Imperial City, unperturbed and emotionless… he received no response whatsoever.
"…." After the Little Demon Empress's lineage had fully awakened and they had left the Golden Crow's Secret Realm, he felt her aura had undergone a tremendous change… No, this change might have come even earlier than that… Perhaps it was during the moment she forcibly pushed him to the ground…
For the sake of achieving her revenge and desire for power, she seemed to have completely annihilated herself… including her own feelings and life.
The power she had desired had been achieved, but her emotions had also been sealed, and even her life was rapidly fading away… She stood there silently, without making a single sound or taking a single breath, as if she were the most beautiful lifelike doll in the world.
But behind that icy mask, her heart trembled. Hearing him speak to her so affectionately, a wave of regret and love surged through her. She remembered the moment when, in her blind pursuit of power, she had forced Ren Zu to the ground, ignoring his dignity, ignoring his feelings. And yet, he was still there, indifferent to the world but loving toward her, walking by her side without demands. The pain of having hurt him gnawed at her from within, while her chest burned with a love she could no longer hide but didn't know how to express...
Just as Ren Zu was about to speak about what they had discussed during that month they spent together, he saw a gray figure flicker in the corner of his eye. In an instant, the Little Demon Empress had traveled three hundred and fifty meters from their location.
"Ah… Wait for me!!"
Ren Zu smiled faintly as he saw the gray figure dart forward like a bolt of lightning. Without haste, he simply took a deep breath, adjusting his profound energy. Then, with a single step, he tore through space, and in the blink of an eye, he was already by her side, matching her speed with disconcerting ease.
"Cai'er." His voice was calm, but there was an unshakable firmness in it. "We've already had this conversation. So why are you treating me as if nothing happened?"
The Little Demon Empress didn't respond immediately. Her cold and distant gaze remained fixed on the horizon, as if the Demon Imperial City were the only thing that mattered. But Ren Zu wasn't intimidated by her silence.
He leaned slightly forward, forcing her to acknowledge his presence, and with a faint, ironic smile, he added:
"Don't tell me you've already forgotten? You yourself told me you loved me… while riding me like there was no tomorrow, moaning nonstop."
His words struck her like a thunderbolt. The Little Demon Empress's face remained pale and rigid, but the delicate tips of her ears instantly turned a crimson shade. No matter how much she tried to maintain her facade of absolute coldness, her body betrayed her subtly.
"Ren Zu…" Her voice finally emerged, sharp and icy. "Don't say such ridiculous things again."
But he only chuckled softly, with that warm indifference so characteristic of him. Without waiting for her to pull away further, Ren Zu grabbed her arm mid-air, abruptly halting her flight.
The two stopped, floating in the open sky, facing each other in silence.
He pulled her a little closer, their breaths mingling. His deep, black eyes, like an endless abyss, locked onto hers.
"As I've said many times before, and you even agreed… though, considering your state of ecstasy, let's ignore that… Ahem… well, from now on, you are my wife."
The Little Demon Empress's eyes widened for a moment before narrowing into a cold, proud expression.
"Don't talk nonsense." She tried to pull her arm back, but his gentle strength didn't allow it. "I never agreed to that."
Ren Zu only smiled, and without giving her room for further protests, he leaned in and sealed her lips with a kiss. It wasn't invasive or fierce, but a firm and gentle contact, filled with a tenderness that contrasted with the cruelty of the world they lived in.
The Little Demon Empress froze. Inside, her heart raced as if it would explode, but outwardly, she maintained her rigid expression, as if nothing could shake her. Still, the faint tremble in her fingers betrayed the storm raging within her.
When he pulled back just enough to speak, his eyes remained fixed on hers.
"I'm by your side, Cai'er. I'll help with your revenge, and I'll be there whenever you need me." His hand gently rose to her face, holding it with both firmness and care. "And even if you say you don't want me… I'll still be here. Be honest and look at me, in my eyes. And tell me you feel nothing for me."
The air seemed to stop between them.
Ren Zu's deep, unyielding black eyes collided with the Little Demon Empress's dark, proud ones. She tried to speak, tried to let out a cold denial… but the words wouldn't come. Her heart pounded so loudly it seemed to echo in her ears.
Finally, she huffed and looked away, her cheeks now faintly flushed.
"…You're insufferable." She muttered, with that typical tone of someone trying to hide something. "Since that day… you were already mine. There's no use denying it. I… will take responsibility. So yes… I'll be your wife."
The words came out dry, harsh, as if forced, but deep down, they carried immense weight. For her, admitting something like that was harder than facing a thousand enemies.
And yet, she had done it.
Ren Zu, however, didn't mock or tease her further. He simply watched her in silence, as if he wanted to etch this moment into his memory forever. Then, with a faint smile, he pulled her close again and wrapped an arm around her, holding her against his chest.
The Little Demon Empress didn't resist this time. She remained rigid for only a few seconds before slowly relaxing, allowing herself to feel the warmth that contrasted with the cold consuming her life day by day.
Inside, her thoughts were a whirlwind. Three years… that's all she had left. She would need to leave a descendant to carry on her royal lineage, and perhaps, she could at least leave something for him too. If she couldn't give him a lifetime by his side, at least she could give him a descendant… a legacy of the two of them. That's how she saw it.
Ren Zu didn't need to hear the unspoken words. Just by the way she rested her head against his chest, he knew what was going through her mind. And even if she tried to deny it, he could clearly feel the love hidden behind her mask of coldness.
He took a deep breath, looking at the horizon alongside her. The Demon Imperial City still seemed distant, but the moment of confrontation was inevitably approaching. And, unlike before, this was no longer just the Little Demon Empress's fight. It was their fight.
"Cai'er." He broke the silence after a few minutes, his voice low and firm. "If there are only three years left… I'll make them the most meaningful time of your life. And when the end comes, if there's anything you need to carry, I'll carry it for you. And I'll find a way to stop you from dying, so trust me."
She closed her eyes for a moment, hiding the emotion threatening to overflow. When she opened them again, they were cold once more.
"Don't say foolish things. Take care of yourself first. I don't need your pity."
Ren Zu smiled. He didn't correct her or argue. He knew that behind those harsh words hid the purest desire to keep him from being hurt by her.
"As you wish, wife." He replied in a light, almost playful tone, knowing full well that calling her that would make her blush again.
And, as expected, she turned her face, trying to hide the flush creeping up her ears.
"I already told you… don't call me that."
But in her heart, for the first time in many years, the Little Demon Empress felt less alone.
She quickly said, "Now, let's go…"
Before he could respond, she shot forward toward the Demon Imperial City.
The two agreed to fly and check the situation instead of teleporting through Ren Zu's treasure as they had done to leave the Golden Crow Lightning Flame Valley.
Appearing out of nowhere before fully understanding the situation didn't seem like a good idea. What if they teleported into the middle of something important and put the lives of the Illusory Demon Realm's inhabitants in danger? It was the Little Demon Empress's idea to be cautious about this. So, it was better to go there and hide to assess the situation before acting... This way, it was much better to fly and use their ability to conceal both of them...
They didn't know what Duke Ming was up to...
Although Ren Zu could make a guess based on what he knew from the original story.
Putting that aside...
Looking at her delicate back, Ren Zu silently agreed in his heart. From the moment he entered the Golden Crow Lightning Flame Valley until now, four months had passed. A great many things could have happened in that time, so she was undoubtedly and incomparably worried about the current situation in the Demon Imperial City…
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Hello, everyone!
Today I want to open my heart to you and also share a very special piece of news.
Many of you have been following me for some time now, reading my stories, commenting, supporting, and cheering with each new chapter. Writing has always been more than just a hobby for me, since I dream of becoming a professional writer.
And that is exactly what I want to talk to you about.
Specifically about my Patreon, a platform where you can support my work and, in return, receive exclusive rewards. There, besides being able to read advanced chapters of the stories I already post here, you will also have access to new exclusive stories that will only be available there.
And here comes the big news:
📖 [The Vampire Diaries: I'm Sukuna?!] 📖
This is the first exclusive story on Patreon, and I am very excited to share it with you.
It mixes one of the most beloved universes of contemporary fantasy, The Vampire Diaries, with the devastating and fascinating power of the "King of Curses," Sukuna, from Jujutsu Kaisen.
Here is the official synopsis to spark your curiosity:
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Synopsis – The Vampire Diaries: I'm Sukuna?!
He believed his life would end the moment he was hit by a truck, returning home after years of military missions in Africa.
However, death was not his end.
Between the darkness and a strange voice that offered him a wheel of fate, Ryan awoke in a new body.
A perfect body, inside the universe of The Vampire Diaries.
Now called only Ryan, he discovers that he has a carefully inserted past in Mystic Falls: but it wasn't just that, he also carried with him all the powers, abilities, and experience of the "King of Curses."
Divided between the nostalgia of old memories and the predatory instinct inherited from Sukuna, Ryan will have to decide whether he will live as the childhood friend everyone remembers... or as the predator the town will never forget.
Mystic Falls has always been a place of vampires, witches, and werewolves. But this time, something much worse has just been born.
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Now tell me: how can anyone resist this mix of nostalgia, mystery, and absolute power?
The best part is that the first chapter of this story is already available to all Patreon members, even if you join for free! This means you can dive headfirst into this new adventure without having to spend anything to start. Just join the community and enjoy.
But, of course, those who choose to support with any monthly amount will not only have access to advanced chapters of all the stories you already follow, but also to future exclusives I am preparing. I have many ideas saved, projects I really want to bring to life, and with your support this becomes more and more possible.
And here comes a very important and personal detail: besides helping me maintain this writing pace and always bring new content, your support on Patreon is also helping me achieve an essential goal in my life, paying for my hearing aid.
I am getting closer and closer to gathering the amount, and I can sincerely say that every contribution, no matter how small it may seem, makes a huge difference. This device is not just a matter of comfort: it is quality of life, being able to hear better, being able to be even more present in conversations, in stories, and in everyday life. It is something that will impact not only my writing, but my entire life.
That's why, when you support, you're not just helping to keep the stories alive, you're also supporting a very real and important part of my personal journey. And I can only thank, from the bottom of my heart, everyone who has already reached out and everyone who is thinking of doing so.
So, to sum up what you will find on Patreon:
Advanced chapters of the stories you already love.
Exclusive stories, such as The Vampire Diaries: I'm Sukuna?!.
The opportunity to closely follow the creative process, support directly, and be part of this journey.
And, of course, the chance to help me reach my goal of paying for the hearing aid.
Even if you join for free, you will already have access to the first chapter of the new story and can enjoy special content. If you decide to support with any amount, you will not only be securing incredible advantages as a reader, but also helping much more than you can imagine.
Literature, fanfics, and the stories we love so much only exist because of this exchange: I write, you read, comment, support, and cheer along. And it is precisely this connection that inspires me to keep creating and bringing more and more ideas to life.
So, here's the invitation: come be part of this community on Patreon. Read the first chapter of The Vampire Diaries: I'm Sukuna?!, discover what Ryan will face in Mystic Falls with Sukuna's power in his hands, and take the chance to access everything that's coming.
The journey is only beginning, and I would love to have you walking alongside me on this road. 💖
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✨ Extra Chapter Goals ✨
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