Chapter 433: Ancestral Grounds

The atmosphere in the Dullahan Kingdom was tense, though it was hard to see from the commoner’s perspective. Dullahans perhaps did their best to live their daily lives as they simply had no power to change the looming and undoubtedly ominous clouds above them.

And they had belief in their royalty, that was doubtless.

“It started when the news of the death of my grandfather reached the royal house. Someone unfamiliar and unknown had sent that news, probably antagonists, so the royal house scoffed at first.

But then, the undeniable proof came into view, and the whole house rocked with the chaos,” Sara started the story about events in the Dullahan Kingdom. And as those had been stacking up ever since the death of their king, Alex knew he shouldn’t ask questions but just listen.

Sara also felt better after going through every event.

In a nutshell, the Dullahan Kingdom was in danger.

They lost their highest level existence, the king, and even their strongest sword was in Alex’s hands. Someone unfamiliar — undoubtedly the killer — knew first about their king’s death, and he must’ve notified other races from the Darkmana Empire.

Other kings had already reached the Dullahan Kingdom’s royal house with questions and even demands, for they couldn’t have a weak link at the highest seat. Two of the four kings from the Darkmana Empire already offered dullahans to take over them under their wing and have the women of Miseles House marry their people.

“We have time because of funeral and other things… Those undead creatures bought us a lot of time, actually…” Sara wasn’t fond of the undead because she knew who had the ultimate control over them. That changed as the soul grave-keeper died, and it seemed like Alex would be his successor.

Alex’s Fallen Servants were top-tier undead, and his family had already begun taking over the abandoned realm… There was also Eva Mora somewhere, but her whereabouts were unknown for now.

“I reckon no one wants to marry outsiders now, so this should be the last resort to keep some status and lands,” Alex parted his lips, telling his thoughts. Anyone would be able to tell that cold princesses from the Dullahan Kingdom did not want to marry outsiders — especially forcefully owing to circumstances.

Sara nodded sweetly, explaining the current plot, “Dullahans will fight the prodigies from the Darkmana Empire. Someone will also be chosen to fight one of the kings in a duel to keep our status.

If the majority wins against the prodigies, we should be fine, even if our representative will lose against the king. It won’t be the end of our problems as kings, in the future, will issue rematch under the pretext that our ‘king’ must have gained enough experience to match them in power.”

That was one of the problems, though.

The main problem concerned Sara and Alex, for some dullahans had mentioned Alex’s name and that their sword was within his hands. Some simply speculated that Alex could’ve his hands in Thanas’ death.

But as Sara rose with indignation and curses at them, presenting the invitation to the Ancestral Grounds issued by Thanas himself, she had been able to perfectly deal with that part of bothersome people.

It exhausted her, though.

“As a player, I can level up faster than residents who reset their level… This is my best advantage as they fuel me with resources and experience so I can help them against prodigies from the Darkmana Empire.

And as you are my husband, you can also join me,” Sara said while leaning on Alex’s arm, resting her little head as he guided them across the capital. Many eyes had already fallen on them as Sara had that peculiar blonde hair and face from the royal house.

Alex ruffled her hair affectionately, nodding, “I will join. Celia, as the queen of dullahans, protected my castle. It’s my duty to help you two’s home.”

The relationship between Sara and the dullahans was much better in recent months, so Alex didn’t want to because of her distancing herself from them, which would result in Celia losing a home she always could rely on, too.

In those dire times and with many enemies lurking around, Alex simply couldn’t afford any arrogant or pointless moves.

He glanced at Sara’s level, which was close to three hundred, smiled, then finally stepped into the royal castle — his goal to enter the Ancestral Grounds. In those lands, Alex would level up even more, and so would Sara.

Alex had a meeting with dullahans he was familiar with.

Princess Natalia was a woman of a few words with a cold countenance, but even she was influenced by the chaos around them, her lips parting for longer and more. She welcomed Alex warmly, and so did her brother.

Prince Nektor, whom Alex had fought in the past, was in a naturally similar state. It was hard to tell, though, whether he worried more about the royal house and his sisters or the death of his father wore him down.

Nonetheless, his stance was a pleasant surprise as he shook hands with Alex, went together with him and Sara to the Ancestral Grounds’ doors, and spoke about other royal families from the Darkmana Empire.

“Good luck,” Nektor said as the grand doors opened upon sensing Alex and Sara’s presence, their invitations disappearing from their systems.

Alex smiled faintly, “Thanks, Nektor.”

Sara also curved her lips, “Thank you, uncle.”

The couple turned around. A chilling and slightly darker wind went through them, slapping their faces and brushing their hairs, which in Alex’s case turned somewhat sleek. They saw dark soil with many broken castles strewn around, lit up in cold blue light, and the night sky without any stars.

Alex and Sara turned serious, then stepped over the threshold, entering a world they could only fight in.

[Your Dullahan King’s Sword has activated Ultimate Skill.]

[Your race has changed.]

[There’s no time limit for Ultimate Skill in the Ancestral Grounds.]

“We will fight enemies from the past, Alex,” Sara whispered, and a few breaths later, Alex saw the first army of dark-scaled humanoid people rushing in their direction.