Chapter 298: The God-Slayer Rhodes is Still Alive!
Does he not know the consequences of doing this?
If he kills this Emperor, the Southern Unified Empire will likely plunge into civil war, and the situation of human unity, which was so close to being achieved, will be completely shattered.
Rhodes seemed to sense Serie's confusion. His gaze remained fixed on Legate as he explained in a low voice: "He must die."
He paused, his tone carrying a rare resoluteness. "Whether the Southern Unified Empire falls into civil war, or the human race experiences temporary turmoil—compared to leaving his threat alive, these prices are acceptable."
He turned his gaze to Serie, his eyes filled with undisguised killing intent. "From the moment he used the Holy Sword and locked onto you as his target, his fate was sealed."
Hearing this, Serie was startled, and then a warmth surged in her heart.
So it was because of this.
This man, who always considered the big picture and had so many misgivings, was so decisive this time because Legate had touched his reverse scale—her safety.
The corner of her mouth curled up involuntarily. She said nothing more, simply taking a half-step back, handing the right of execution completely over to Rhodes.
She knew that once Rhodes made a decision, he would never change it.
Slumped on the ground, Legate heard every word of their conversation.
When he heard Rhodes's cold "Kill," his body trembled violently.
He looked up at Rhodes walking slowly toward him.
The man had no exaggerated aura about him, but that calm gaze was more terrifying than any action.
Legate knew he was finished.
He wasn't a powerful mage like his teacher, nor a valiant warrior of the army. Before these two existences capable of easily destroying his strongest legion and breaching the capital's defenses, he had no room to resist.
Beg for mercy?
His dignity as an Emperor would not allow it.
Curse them?
Meaningless; it would only make him look ridiculous.
However, under the shadow of despair and death, a wave of unwillingness and malicious thought suddenly shot up from the bottom of his heart.
He stared fixedly at Rhodes's overly young face. A thousand years of time had left no trace on him.
Magic that grants humans immortality... truly impressive.
Rhodes arrived before him. They were close enough to see their reflections in each other's pupils.
Just as Rhodes raised his hand and a magic circle unfolded at his fingertips—
Legate took a sharp, deep breath. Using all his mana, he cast an extremely simple, fast, and wide-range amplification spell.
His frantic scream, like the final roar of a dying beast, spread instantly throughout the entire Imperial Capital, reaching everyone's ears.
"THE GOD-SLAYER RHODES! IS STILL ALIVE—!!!"
This scream was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly stirring up stormy waves in the hearts of countless people in the capital.
Rhodes?
That legendary God-slayer?
The hero who saved the world a thousand years ago?
Didn't he disappear into the river of history long ago? How could he still be alive?!
If he is still alive... what does that mean?
It means he broke the limits of human lifespan! It means he might possess... magic capable of granting humans eternal life!!!
After shouting this sentence, Legate seemed drained of all strength, collapsing like a pile of mud. Yet, a twisted smile appeared on his face.
He stared dead at Rhodes, his eyes full of triumph.
I succeeded!
He couldn't escape death today, but the shocking secret thrown out before his death had been sown.
As long as human greed for life and power existed, as long as people feared death and yearned for immortality...
Then the news that "The God-slayer Rhodes is still alive and might possess immortality magic" would become a blade hanging over Rhodes's head!
Endless troubles and conspiracies would await him in the future. Even if he was the hero who once saved the world, a powerful existence who had slain gods, he ultimately couldn't resist the covetous eyes of the dying among the entire human race.
This was the final gift from him, Legate Othast, to this God-slayer.
Rhodes's raised hand paused slightly. Looking at the mad smile on Legate's face, the corner of his mouth twitched slightly. In the next second, an energy beam pierced directly through the Emperor's body.
He truly hadn't expected Legate to pull such a move right before dying.
Although he hadn't planned on hiding his identity forever, announcing it to the world directly like this was indeed a bit troublesome. He should have chosen a more suitable time.
With this stunt, everyone's first thought would be why he could live so long, leading them to associate him with mastering some kind of immortality magic.
Truly disgusting.
Unless he destroyed the entire Imperial Capital completely, this news was bound to spread across the continent at a frantic speed.
But obviously, Rhodes wouldn't do that.
Serie frowned as well. She instantly understood Legate's malicious intent.
Once this news spread, the consequences would be unimaginable.
She subconsciously clenched her small hand, looking at Rhodes. If necessary, she didn't mind acting in his stead.
She could still use Divine Strike twice. Although she couldn't destroy the capital completely, she still had Athos. She could release a restrictive barrier to surround the entire city, letting no one escape.
That way, the news could be completely sealed.
Otherwise, it would spread across the continent at an unimaginable speed.
Rhodes was silent for a moment, then shook his head at Serie, calming the extreme thought in the elf's mind.
Legate's words did give him a slight headache, but it vanished quickly.
After all, power was in his hands.
Rhodes was strong. Stronger than anyone else in the world.
Therefore, he feared no covetous eyes.
If necessary, he wouldn't mind killing every single fool who dared to seek death, thoroughly dispelling their notions.
"Idiot."
Looking at the lifeless corpse on the ground that still bore a grotesque smile, Rhodes spat out the word lightly. He unfolded a magic circle again, and a beam of annihilation fell, completely erasing everything remaining of Legate.
The palace returned to deathly silence.
But the Imperial Capital, the entire Southern Unified Empire, and even the whole continent were destined to no longer be peaceful because of Legate's dying scream.
The news that Rhodes was still alive, and the possibility of immortality it implied, began to spread quietly like an unstoppable plague.
Serie walked to Rhodes's side, looking at the scorched black mark on the ground, and snorted coldly. "Disgusting people even in death."
"It is fine," he said calmly. "What will come, will come."
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