Apocalypse Cheater-Chapter 270: Quest of Escort Knight

[: 3rd POV :]

A few days had passed by even since the encounter with the Immortals.

Although Daniel didn't feel threatened by the appearance of Immortals, he still kept his guard up.

Even so, his path of ultimate strength still carries on.

And he decided to enter the world of Modern Fantasia.

He took a deep breathe when his feet touched solid ground.

Wind brushed against his face, fresh and fragrant, carrying the scent of blooming mystic poppies.

Above him stretched a vast sky streaked with floating ships and even mana-based satellites.

He was appreciating his moments, but all of a sudden, a screen popped up.

[: You have received a Priority Invitation from: Bella Hugh :]

[: You are cordially invited to the Royal Palace of Ardentlight. My father, the King of Heroes, wishes to meet you. Please do not decline :]

Daniel raised a brow.

"Bella again, huh?"

The name stirred something warm in his chest.

A familiar light.

Bella was no stranger.

They'd gone through all kinds of experiences within the world, usually under strange or dangerous circumstances.

In fact, he could declare that she was quite close to him, and it had been such a long time since he had seen her.

He was unsure whether the word 'miss' was right, but he wondered how she had been.

'Still, an invitation to the Imperial palace? That is new, and it doesn't hurt to meet her again'

Daniel smiled and, with the flick of his hand, accepted the teleportation coordinates.

Seconds later, a golden circle formed beneath his feet, spiralling upward in a pillar of warm light.

The world spun, and when it settled, Daniel stood within the majestic Palace of the royalty.

Golden walls rose high around him, laced with runes and turrets powered by both arcane batteries and solar mana converters.

Crystal constructs floated in the air, automatons patrolling alongside knights in gleaming techno-armour.

The streets were pristine marble, and above it all stood the towering palace where the King and Queen lived and commanded the fates of nations.

But none of it held his attention.

Not today.

Today, he was here for her.

A royal guard greeted him at the gates, bowing respectfully.

"Sir Daniel. The Princess awaits."

He was led through halls carved of white-gold stone, walls adorned with living paintings—scenes of epic battles and long-forgotten peace treaties that shimmered like dreamscapes.

At last, the doors to the royal chamber opened.

Inside stood Bella Hugh.

Her icy blue hair glowed like snow, cascading over a regal combat dress, a fusion of armour and elegance.

She had the grace of a noble and the coldness of Ice.

But it was her eyes that struck him most.

Not because they were beautiful, though they were, but because they softened when she looked at him.

"Daniel," she said, her voice warmer than any royal greeting deserved.

"You came..."

"I got your invitation," he replied.

"Hard to ignore a princess's request, especially when it comes from you" He smiled.

A soft chuckle came from her.

She took a few steps forward and then hesitated.

The last time they had stood this close was when she was in crisis.

Her hands had been trembling as she remembered that without Daniel, she wouldn't be here.

Her breath had been shallow, her voice shattered from sobbing his name as he carried her through fire and broken oaths.

"I…" Bella began, but her voice caught.

Her voice trembled, and knowing she was panicking, Daniel stood closer towards her and grabbed her hand.

"How have you been?" He questioned softly.

She composed herself and tightened her grip where Daniel held her hand, and with a breath, then looked up at him.

"I've been well. How about you?"

"Better than ever,"

Daniel said, noticing the faint glow at her fingertips.

She was stronger now, even though a little bit emotional, but she was more composed.

The weight of a throne no longer bent her shoulders.

"Ruling suits you." He joked.

A faint smile curved her lips, but there was something unreadable in her gaze.

"I didn't just invite you here because of politics," she said quietly.

"Though my father might think otherwise."

Before he could respond, a soft chime echoed through the chamber.

The high doors at the back opened, and two other figures stepped in.

One was a tall woman dressed in flowing robes of pale blue and silver, her long hair like falling snow, her presence cold, serene, powerful.

Elia Hugh, the Ice Saint.

Her return had once been impossible.

Yet now, she walked among the living again. Eyes calm and watchful.

And beside her stood a man draped in royal-blue regalia, a long blade strapped to his back, its hilt wrapped in dragonhide, its blade forged from meteorite steel.

His presence was overwhelming.

His posture was calm but impossibly sharp.

Jason Hugh, King of Heroes.

He walked not like a man of politics, but a warrior who had laid gods low with a blade of truth.

His eyes studied Daniel in silence, no malice, no arrogance, just a warrior's respect.

"Daniel," Jason said, his voice quiet and sure, "thank you for coming."

Daniel gave a slight nod. "An invitation from royalty is hard to ignore."

Elia smiled faintly, her eyes flicking to Bella with a knowing gleam.

"I've heard that you have been killing Winged Beast? I have my respect for you"

Daniel blinked.

"Word spreads fast, and thank you for the compliment"

"I have eyes in all corners of this world," Jason said with a proud smile.

"But that's not why you're here."

"I apologise that I couldn't invite you here any earlier since we have to deal with the aftermath"

"But now, I wish to thank you with all of my heart and life that you have saved my daughter, even reviving my wife"

"That is a debt that I can't even hope to repay"

"That's alright your majesty, and I have even received my rewards, so you wouldn't have to be bothered by it"

Jason was kinda of surprised by Daniel's attitude.

Although he had heard from both his wife and daughter, he still didn't believe Daniel would have such a calm, respectful attitude.

It made him even more approving of Daniel even more and to the other eyes, he was nodding his head alone.

"Cough" Even Elia had to wake Jason up from his imagination.

"Oh, I apologise for my attitude" Jason chuckled.

"Sigh" Elia sighed in defeat as she couldn't rely on her foolish husband.

Hence, she decided to specify the reason why they had decided to call for Daniel.

Elia stood and stepped forward, voice smooth like flowing water.

"We have a request, Daniel."

"A request? What kind of request?" Daniel questioned, as he had never received such a thing from the imperial family.

Elia's gaze remained steady on Daniel, her presence as calm as a snow-covered lake but edged with caution.

She looked once at her daughter, then at the man before her, the one who had turned their fates upside down.

Her voice was measured.

"There will be a gathering in two weeks, an intercontinental summit unlike any in the past century. A diplomatic event under the banner of peace."

Jason Hugh, standing beside his queen, continued, "The Elven Empire will attend. So will the Demi-human Coalition. Even the Demon Lord have sent word they'll be attending."

He paused for a heartbeat.

"That alone is enough to call for attention… but there's more."

Daniel's gaze sharpened slightly. He could tell the tone had shifted.

Jason's hand flexed over the hilt of his blade as he continued, "Representatives from all of the known continents will be there"

"They are beings that haven't stepped out from their continents for thousands of years"

"They are known as the Dragons from the Draconian Peaks, the Giants from the core of Earth, the Sea Kingdom from the Abyssal Coral, even beings from the floating Sky Realm"

"Sounds like quite the gathering," Daniel said, expression unreadable.

"But why the sudden unity?"

Jason's expression darkened.

"Because the Ghosts are moving again."

For a moment, the room fell into an eerie silence.

Even the humming mana-crystals on the ceiling dimmed slightly.

Bella's fingers clenched at her sides, and Elia's gaze turned colder.

'So they have appeared already,' Daniel thought.

"The Ghosts," Elia said softly, "the ones who walk and lived with us since the very beginning"

"Ancient beings who have been our enemies, no, this world's enemies from the very beginning"

Jason nodded.

"They are the remnants of a forgotten calamity, sealed away before the first kingdoms of men were even founded"

"And yet, rumours say they've begun appearing again"

Daniel's eyes narrowed.

"And you think they'll appear at this summit?"

"We don't know," Elia admitted.

"But if they're truly moving, this event is a perfect place for something catastrophic to begin. Assassinations. Replacements. Contagion of fear. Anything."

"And that's why we're asking this," Jason said, more serious than ever.

"Daniel… I want you to serve as Bella's escort knight for the summit."

Daniel tilted his head, eyeing Bella for a long moment before returning his gaze to the King.

"You don't lack powerful guards," he said slowly. "Why me?"

Elia stepped forward, her voice soft but laced with certainty.

"Because we trust no one more than you. You've already saved Bella when the world had turned against her. You've brought back the impossible"

"And you…" she paused, searching his gaze, "…you're not someone they'll expect. Nor can they defeat you easily."

Jason nodded, arms crossed.

"If something happens, if the Ghosts reveal themselves or some ancient monster decides to start a war… we need her protected"

Bella stepped forward then, quietly.

She hadn't spoken during the entire exchange, but now, her voice was steady and soft.

"…It doesn't have to be as a knight. It can be just you. As you are. But I want you there." 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Daniel turned to her, their eyes meeting for a long moment.

There was no desperation in her tone.

No childish plea.

Just trust… and something deeper she couldn't say aloud in front of others.

He let out a breath and gave her a faint smile.

"…Alright. I'll go."

Jason's shoulders relaxed.

Elia gave a small, knowing nod. Bella… simply exhaled, eyes shimmering with excitement.

"Then we'll prepare your identity and cover," Jason said.

"The event will be hosted in Astral Vale, a neutral land of ancient treaties and celestial law. Even the gods themselves do not meddle there."

"And yet," Elia said quietly, "that is exactly why it's vulnerable now."

Daniel closed his eyes for a moment, thinking.

[: You have accepted a Main Chain Quest: The Summit :]

The Ghosts, the summit, ancient powers stirring.

It seemed this event would lead him into yet another storm.

And somehow… he welcomed it.