SSS-Grade Acceleration Talent made me Fastest Lord of Apocalypse-Chapter 44: Thousand Mile Toad

Later that evening.

A grand banquet had been organized in honor of the two Divine Researchers and to celebrate the decisive victory over the Armoured Rats.

The Harrier family castle, towering at the heart of Valthorn City, radiated splendor. Warm lantern light bathed the pathways in a golden hue, and banners bearing the family crest fluttered gently in the breeze.

Musicians in traditional garb filled the air with harmonious tones, their flutes and stringed instruments weaving an old melody that carried through the courtyards. Servants scurried along the cobbled walkways, arms laden with trays of food and ornate decorations, while guests in fine attire arrived by the dozen.

---

Inside the castle chambers...

"Husband, how do I look?"

Niomi stood in front of a tall, bronze-framed mirror, her voice soft and uncertain.

She wore a flowing white gown with laced embellishments trailing from the sleeves and hem. A delicate necklace of pure amethyst diamonds adorned her neck, resting elegantly against her porcelain skin. Her jet-black hair cascaded like a velvet waterfall, glossy and perfectly arranged, lending her an air of effortless grace.

Though her makeup was light, her natural beauty shone through like moonlight through a silk veil. The entire ensemble transformed her into something ethereal—like a noble lady from a forgotten legend.

Damien, standing a few paces behind, couldn’t help but stare. Dressed in a refined navy-blue overcoat with a satin-white shirt underneath, he looked like royalty himself—his prior battle-worn image completely erased.

He exhaled softly, lips parting in honest admiration.

"Beautiful. Very beautiful."

Niomi’s face immediately flushed crimson, the color blooming from her cheeks down to her neck.

"Ahh! Really..." she mumbled, averting her gaze as if the praise was too much to handle.

The sight made Damien’s hand twitch with the urge to pinch her cheeks. But with the banquet awaiting them, he restrained himself. Instead, he gently reached out, took her hand into his, and guided her toward the door.

Startled by his sudden gesture, Niomi hesitated—but only for a moment. Her long gown whispered across the stone floor as she followed him, her heart fluttering.

As the couple stepped into the hallway, rows of uniformed guards and neatly dressed servants bowed in unison.

"Greetings, Lord and Lady."

Their voices echoed respectfully, and the duo offered polite nods in return before proceeding.

Hand in hand, they walked toward the grand banquet hall.

The enormous gates—each several meters tall—creaked open, revealing a hall that glittered like a dream. Golden pillars, engraved with ancient scripture and inlaid with emerald veins, stretched to the domed ceiling above. Intricately carved beams supported the vaulted roof, while soft illusions of floating golden light played among the chandeliers.

The interior was alive with color and activity. Hundreds of long tables lined the marbled floor, their surfaces overflowing with exotic dishes and radiant wines. High-ranking officials in ceremonial armor laughed boisterously over tankards. Warriors recounted exaggerated tales of valor and death-defying feats. Laughter erupted from corners of the room. Musicians played spirited melodies, and beautifully dressed dancers moved with grace beneath the shifting light.

The atmosphere was warm, intoxicating, and full of festivity.

Yet the moment Damien and Niomi entered, the entire hall seemed to still. Conversations fell silent, eyes subtly shifted in their direction, and only the music continued, soft and lingering. ƒrēenovelkiss.com

Nearly every general had already arrived—save for one notable absence.

Felix.

Damien’s thoughts briefly darkened. That man’s cowardice still lingered like a bitter aftertaste. He’d pay him a visit—after the pleasantries.

In the far corner, several figures stood sipping deep red wine. Among them, Claymen’s unmistakable voice echoed.

"The poor rat couldn’t even survive one punch. Exploded like a fruit on impact, I swear!"

The two women near him didn’t seem impressed. Iron Fist, stoic and reserved, bore an expression of mild annoyance. Her companion merely rolled her eyes.

Damien’s gaze moved to his older brother.

Devrok stood near the host’s table, tall and composed, with his arms crossed casually. His eyes lit up as he saw them, and a wide smile broke across his face. Pride radiated from him—not a trace of jealousy in sight.

"You sure like to take your time," Devrok called out warmly.

"Of course," Damien replied with a knowing smile. "I was too busy admiring my wife’s beauty. Lost track of time."

"It’s to be expected. A single man like you wouldn’t understand..."

The teasing remark caused Niomi to tighten her grip on his hand—just slightly, but enough for Damien to feel it. Her cultivation level was far beneath his, but her reactions still carried weight in his heart.

He found it endearing and reached up to gently pat her head.

"What are you doing..." she whispered, her voice barely audible over the music.

Damien simply smiled and ignored her flustered protest.

Devrok chuckled at the banter, unaffected. His life held no place for romantic distractions. Only the path of the sword mattered to him. The pursuit of perfection and ascension to the absolute peak—that was the fire in his blood.

With a hearty laugh, he raised his cup and declared, "Now that the crown prince is here, the banquet can finally begin!"

A wave of cheer surged through the hall as the music swelled once more. Dancers twirled, goblets clinked, and the celebration roared back to life.

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Elsewhere in the hall...

"He’s finally here..." Akira murmured from her table, her gaze locked onto Damien.

She wore a fitted pink gown that shimmered subtly under the candlelight. It clung to her frame in all the right ways, the fabric swaying gently with her movements. Her hair, once wild and unkempt from the morning’s battle, had been tamed into an elegant bun, baring the smooth curve of her back like a snake poised to strike.

Beside her, Selene was dressed in a modest black robe, one more suited to a scholar than a noble guest. She made no effort to disguise her boredom, her eyes distant and cold.

Then her lips parted, and she spoke a single word.

"Go."

Akira’s eyes lit up. That was all the permission she needed.

She rose gracefully, lifting her own glass of wine, and began walking toward Damien—each step poised, purposeful.

Selene remained behind. With barely a glance at the chaos around her, she retrieved a thick, worn notebook and placed it on the table. The din of the hall faded from her awareness as she flipped through the pages.

The parchment was filled with complex diagrams—sketches of strange toads and mechanical blueprints. One in particular stood out: a circular device labeled in bold script.

Storage Ring.

Her research had led her here, to a spatial treasure of immense value. But progress had stalled. A rare beast—known as the Thousand-Mile Toad—was the key. Said to house a pocket dimension within its belly, the creature was shy, elusive, and nearly impossible to catch alone.

After witnessing the rat tide’s destruction, Selene had come to a reluctant conclusion: she couldn’t obtain the toad by herself.

Her eyes slowly drifted back to Damien. He stood near the center of the room, frowning into his wine glass like a man staring at poison.

"This monster’s piss is called wine..."

He resisted the urge to spit it out and instead forced himself to swallow, eyes darting around to ensure no one noticed.

Niomi tilted her head, concern clear in her voice. "Are you okay?"

Do I look okay? he wanted to say, but instead, he gave her a practiced smile.

He still hadn’t adjusted to this world’s food and drink. The meat was strange, the wine even worse. For all the majesty, the cuisine was an insult.

Just as he was about to voice his frustration, a delicate fragrance wafted past him. He turned slightly—and saw her.

Akira.

She approached with feline elegance, a glass of wine in hand and a gaze that burned with thinly veiled curiosity.

It wasn’t her boldness or beauty that made Damien uneasy—it was the ease with which she sipped that cursed drink.

Akira’s eyes sparkled as she approached, the soft clink of her heels masked by the music and chatter. Her gaze swept over Damien with a mixture of appraisal and amusement before she gracefully raised her glass in a silent toast.

"You performance today was phenomenal," she said, her voice smooth and mellow like aged honey. She then proceeds to greet Niomi, although she had no interest in her but ignoring her would be just stupid.

"Hahaha..it was nothing.."

Damien merely laughed at words and returned the toast, trying to act modest.

Meanwhile for some unknown reason, Niomi cling to him even more tightly.

Her actions caused his lips to curl up slightly.

Their conversation continued with occasional laughter.

Then Damien finally asked the question in which he was most interested in.

"I wonder why a person of your standings would come to such a remote corner."

Damien was genuinely curious, Divine Researchers like her, just need to say a words, and a hundred of people gather at their doorstep, to follow their every command, like loyal servant.