100X Returns System: I Dominate the Age of Gods-Chapter 145. The Eternal Sovereign is Merciful

Suddenly, they saw Maximus’s figure rushing toward them from the darkness, his movements were hurried and unsteady.

His face was filled with panic and confusion, as if he had just woken up in the middle of a nightmare and could not tell where it ended.

"What the hell?" he blurted out as soon as he reached them. "Where were you? And what happened to me?"

He barely gave them time to breathe before continuing. "Why was I on the ground? And why does everything feel off? Who are the men inside cleaning all the blood?"

Ethan and Leila exchanged a look.

Both of them sighed at the same time, knowing there was no point in hiding anything now.

They gestured for him to calm down and began explaining everything from the moment they entered the inn to the ambush, the cultists, and the sudden appearance of the Hounds.

They spoke slowly but thoroughly, making sure not to miss even a single detail.

As the story went on, Maximus’s expression gradually hardened. The confusion on his face faded, replaced by alarm and urgency.

When they finally finished, Maximus clenched his fists.

"Listen, guys," he said quickly, lowering his voice. "I need to leave. Right now."

Both Ethan and Leila stiffened.

"I am free from their tracking spell," Maximus continued, eyes darting around nervously. "They followed both of you here, not me."

"What?" Leila snapped. "Hey, stop! What the hell are you talking about?"

Maximus was already turning away, his body angled toward the forest. "I can’t stay here. If I leave now, they won’t follow me."

"You are not going anywhere."

The firm voice froze all three of them in place.

Number 36 stepped out of the tavern. His sharp gaze was fixed on Maximus.

"What?" Maximus flared, anger flashing across his face. "Why? I am sure the Emperor won’t assign anyone to guard me."

He pointed accusingly at 36. "You don’t have permission to stop me. Stay back."

He turned again, clearly intending to leave.

"I think you are mistaken," 36 said evenly, not raising his voice even a little.

Maximus halted despite himself.

"You are right to think that we Hounds work on His Majesty’s orders," 36 continued. "But what you do not know is that His Majesty Aurelius grants full operational freedom to the Hounds."

He took a step closer.

"We are free to make and change decisions as long as they align with His Majesty’s goals."

Maximus frowned, unease creeping into his expression.

"Now, whether you know it or not," 36 said calmly, "His Majesty’s goal is to safeguard the new young generation of Riverdale."

His eyes lingered on Maximus. "And I believe you fit that criteria."

He turned away, already losing interest. "Come back inside and make it easier on yourself. If you try to run, I will chase."

Without waiting for a response, 36 walked back into the inn.

Ethan and Leila stood frozen for a moment.

Then they exchanged grim looks.

It was painfully clear now. The Hounds had not just appeared tonight by coincidence. They had likely been observing them for far longer than either of them wanted to believe.

There was no room left to argue.

They turned to Maximus, who looked just as grim as they felt.

Without another word, all three of them walked back into the inn together.

***

Far away from the clearing in No Man’s Land, deep within a dense forest, a military camp flickered with a campfire.

Tents were arranged in a disciplined fashion, and soldiers moved quietly between them as they carried out their duties. A faint smell of smoke and metal hung in the air.

Rizwell Draconis sat beside a small fire, staring into the flames.

The Duke of House Draconis, a man whose name alone could shake halls of power, looked unusually weary.

His posture was straight, but the weight on his shoulders was unmistakable.

His soldiers and his elder son were camped at a distance, exactly as he had ordered. He had chosen isolation tonight, needing space to think.

Only his butler sat nearby, maintaining a respectful distance.

"My lord," the butler said gently, breaking the silence, "please do not worry too much. The academy has informed us that they will do their best to search for Master Alfred."

Rizwell did not look away from the fire.

"I know," he replied quietly. "But that doesn’t mean anything."

He clenched his fist slowly. "Alfred is my son, not theirs. To them, he is just another student."

The butler fell silent.

He had served Rizwell for decades, yet he had never seen his lord like this.

The man who could command armies and stand against monsters without fear now looked helpless, as though something precious had slipped through his grasp.

The flames crackled softly.

Suddenly, the air rippled.

Both Rizwell and the butler stiffened as space distorted beside them. A small portal opened, shimmering with golden light.

From it emerged a golden butterfly.

Its wings fluttered gently as it hovered in the air, drawing both men’s attention. The butterfly drifted closer and landed delicately on Rizwell’s outstretched hand.

Light flared.

The butterfly dissolved, transforming into a golden scroll that shimmered faintly.

Rizwell’s breath caught.

He unrolled the scroll and began to read.

----—————⁜⁜⁜–————----

To the Lord Rizwell, bearer of Tiamat’s bloodline.

The Eternal Sovereign is merciful. Your heir was saved, though his breath is dull.

But favour given is never free, for all spared lives owe blood as fee.

***

A traitor stands at your very side, one who seeks your heir’s demise.

Dragon blood runs foul and scarred, demon taint burns deep and marred.

A blackened scar lies upon his back, marking the honor he chose to crack.

***

Bring his head to the Sovereign’s shrine, where the sun sets late.

Where cliffs fall sheer and Titan goddess wind, Where twisted wood let sunlight slide.

Below the land of eternal mercy and hope lies.

***

Bring a thousand demonic heads with you, those whom your traitor points to.

Offer the heads. Fulfill the rite.

And from the graves of traitors, your heir shall rise.

- Eternal Sovereign

----—————⁜⁜⁜–————----

Rizwell’s eyes widened as he finished reading.

The butler, standing close enough to see his lord’s reaction, frowned deeply.

Rizwell lowered the scroll slowly. The shock faded, replaced by a grim intensity as he lifted his gaze to meet his butler’s eyes.

"Adam," Rizwell said firmly. "Take your armour off and show me your back."

The butler stiffened instantly.

"My lord?" Adam asked, a bead of sweat forming on his brow. "What happened?"

"Adam," Rizwell repeated, his tone sharpening. "Do it."

There was no room for refusal.

Adam swallowed and complied. He removed his armor piece by piece, then the clothes beneath, and finally turned around.

Rizwell examined his back carefully.

There were old scars, sword wounds, and faded marks of past battles. But there was no blackened scar as the letter suggested.

Rizwell let out a slow breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Relief washed over his face, though his eyes remained serious.

"See this," Rizwell said, attempting to pass the scroll to Adam.

The moment Adam’s fingers touched it, the scroll disintegrated into golden flakes, dispersing into the air like glittering dust.

Rizwell’s eyes widened again.

"My lord," Adam asked carefully, "what was written in that scroll?"

Instead of answering directly, Rizwell asked, "Who is the goddess that the Titans worship?"

Adam blinked, surprised by the sudden question. "My lord, the Titans do not worship gods or goddesses. They worship their holy rivers."

He paused. "However, one of their rivers is often depicted as a goddess, it is called Nera."

Rizwell’s eyes lit up.

"Quick," he said urgently. "Show me the river on the map."

Adam complied at once. A map of Aris appeared between them, glowing faintly under the firelight.

Adam traced the rivers carefully as Rizwell leaned closer, his finger following one winding path.

Suddenly, his finger stopped.

There.

A bend in the river, located in the southernmost part of No Man’s Land, close to the borders of the Dwarven Empire.

Rizwell took out a quill and marked the location firmly.

"This," he said, his voice steady and resolute, "is where we will find Alfred."

Adam stared at the mark, stunned by the certainty in his lord’s tone.

----

[Author note: Go see the map art in auxillary Chapter called world building if u haven’t already]