The Damned Demon-Chapter 860: Returned But Not Empty Handed

The sky was a dim canvas of gray, heavy clouds drifting silently over the weary camp of the Bloodburn survivors.

Their tents stood battered, their spirits worn, the survivors huddling in small groups around sputtering fires that fought desperately to keep burning against the oppressive chill.

Hope was fragile among them, a tiny flicker kept alive only by the birth of their little princess, Ravina who fortunately was returned safely though still in deep sleep.

Still, many carried heavy hearts, believing their king had abandoned them despite reassurances from their queen and the consorts that he wouldn't.

They wanted to believe them but it was hard to believe after enduring so much. His daughter was born and still, he wasn't here.

Rowena stood quietly at the edge of the camp, her heart heavy, her pale face shadowed with a pain she kept hidden.

Her eyes were distant, staring blankly at the horizon as a thousand conflicting emotions stirred within her chest upon seeing her people and thinking about a certain someone.

Fear, guilt, longing, regret… and above all, an aching hope she couldn't dare acknowledge openly.

Isola, Sabina, and Silvia who were making sure the perimeter was safe also worried in silence, their own hopes quietly simmering beneath their masks.

But suddenly, as if the world itself held its breath, a massive shadow fell upon them, blotting out the already dim sunlight. The survivors gasped as an eerie darkness enveloped the camp, chilling them to the bone.

"What… What is that?!" one woman whispered fearfully, clutching her child to her chest, eyes wide with dread.

All gazes slowly rose skyward, breaths catching in throats, hearts hammering fiercely as an overwhelming, ominous presence filled the air.

Through the clouds descended a colossal creature, its massive wings spanning hundreds of meters, casting the camp in a shadow that stretched as far as their eyes could see.

The dragon's dark crimson scales glistened menacingly, reflecting the scarce rays of sunlight with an intimidating glow.

Its giant eyes, glowing deep crimson, seemed to pierce into the very souls of those below.

A heavy, stunned silence hung in the air. Then, from among the elder Bloodburners, shaky voices whispered in disbelief:

"By the devils...it's him! Drogor… the Devourer of Skies!"

"The Guardian of our kingdom has returned…? Impossible!"

Instantly, the elders began falling to their knees, trembling hands clasped reverently before them. Younger survivors watched their elders and, realizing the gravity of this moment, immediately followed suit. Even the proudest warriors knelt in reverence, acknowledging the sheer magnitude of the being before them.

Rowena's crimson eyes widened sharply, her chest tightening as a deep awe and hope filled her, compelling her to bow deeply. Drogor was after all the only remaining direct descendant of the Supreme One, Drakaris, without whom the name Bloodburn would have never existed.

But she never expected that Drogor would return after being said to have been depressed for so long.

With an earth-shaking rumble, Drogor gracefully landed, his immense body causing the ground beneath to quake violently. The people held their breaths, afraid to even move as the dust settled around them.

Then, from Drogor's broad back, a tall figure descended slowly, draped in elegant black robes that fluttered softly. His moon-white hair flowed gently behind him, eyes glowing a profound dark yellow filled with guilt and quiet pain.

It was as if the air suddenly stopped breathing as a bottomless silence descended across the place.

Rowena slowly raised her head and the moment she saw him, her heart seemed to stop.

Her lips parted, her eyes trembling uncontrollably. For a moment, she believed she was dreaming, her knees nearly giving way under the sudden torrent of emotions.

"Ash…" she whispered breathlessly, feeling her heart clench tightly, suffocating under waves of joy, pain, anger, and sorrow all at once.

"Rona…" Asher's eyes caught hers, his voice matching the rhythm of her heart. Seeing her again after what felt like an eternity made his heart race like never before.

He then felt Isola, Sabina and Silvia's gaze as they also stumbled forward, looking at him as if they were seeing a ghost.

Isola's eyes grew moist as she sighed in happiness and relief upon seeing that he returned safe and healthy. At last she could put all her worries to rest.

Sabina quickly wiped her right eye as if she was concerned that somebody might see something unsightly that could have come out of her eye.

But then she curved her lips, thinking about everything he owed her after leaving her and the others here for so long and disappearing away on his own.

Silvia was profusely sobbing in happiness and relief and didn't even bother to wipe her eyes as she kept gazing at him, unable to take off his eyes and wanting to confirm that this was not a dream.

At the same time, gasps rippled through the crowd, disbelief washing over every face. Whispers filled with shock and awe spread rapidly:

"His M-Majesty is here…"

"Our king…? Is this real?!"

"Tell me I am not dreaming…"

Esther, Jael, Seron, and other nobles all let out a huge sigh of relief, feeling their hearts getting lighter after so long.

Even if they had no idea why he took so long to return, just seeing him and feeling his presence instilled a renewed sense of strength and hope in them.

They all could sense that something about him was very different other than his aura that just seemed to exit but did not exist at the same time. They couldn't read him at all.

Asher stepped forward slowly, eyes scanning his battered, suffering people. His chest tightened unbearably, guilt clawing at him mercilessly. Seeing their weary faces, the pain etched deep into their eyes, he felt his throat burn with unshed tears.

With a heavy, guilt-laden voice, he began to speak, each word resonating deeply into the hearts of everyone present:

"My people…" His voice trembled slightly, breaking the profound silence. "I stand before you now, knowing words can never atone for the pain and suffering you've endured… pain I failed to shield you from." His fists clenched tightly, jaw tightening as his heart tried to give him strength.

Silence deepened, everyone frozen in place, hearts pounding painfully in their chests as Asher continued, his voice laced with raw emotion.

"You believed your king had abandoned you, that he ran away when you needed him most," he paused, his voice heavy with sorrow. "But I swear upon my soul, I never willingly abandoned you. I was deceived… betrayed by one of our own, blinded by lies until it was far too late. I could not protect you, nor our kingdom. And for that…" his voice choked briefly, "...for that, I bear a burden I will carry forever."

Everyone had their eyes widen upon hearing his words.

"Your Majesty, please…we all will carry that burden with you…"

"Devils…I had no idea His Majesty had to go through all that…"

"I told you! That bitch Naida betrayed not only us but His Majesty as well!"

"Don't forget that bastard Silvan! I can't believe we looked up to and worshipped these powerful nobles only for them to stab us in the back! How could they!"

Silvia lowered her head upon hearing her own people talk bad things about her mother. If it was in the past, she would have killed anyone who spoke ill of her mother.

But now, all she felt was pain and grief since everything they said was true. She wanted to defend her mother but she couldn't…not after what she did. And worst of it, it really did seem as if her mother was the main reason Asher was unable to return in time.

Murmurs of sympathy and pain rippled through the crowd, many eyes moistening as their king spoke words of remorse so sincere it resonated deeply within their wounded hearts.

They finally understood why he was absent for so long.

Rowena's eyes burned with unshed tears, heart aching fiercely. Seeing Asher standing there, guilt-ridden yet earnest, shattered the walls she'd built around her heart.

The anger, betrayal, and bitterness that was lingering deep within her faded into a profound longing and a desperate yearning she had long buried.

"I could not return until I exacted vengeance for the souls we lost," Asher continued firmly, his voice regaining a determined edge. "The suffering you've faced will never go unanswered, nor will the sacrifice of those we've lost ever be in vain."

He lifted his gaze, determination blazing fiercely in his eyes, and declared in a powerful, unwavering voice:

"But know this… I did not return empty-handed. I brought something with me—something I hope might ease the souls of the departed and give renewed hope to the living."

Whispers of confusion spread rapidly, glances exchanged among the survivors, each one filled with curious anticipation.

"What does he mean?"

"What did he bring?"

Rowena's heart beat faster, confusion filling her eyes as she watched Asher closely, a thousand questions swirling in her mind. But more than curiosity, she felt relief, hope, and a quiet joy, emotions she had nearly forgotten.

Nothing else mattered now that he was here.

Beside her, Isola gently touched her arm, giving her a warm, reassuring smile. Sabina and Silvia exchanged hopeful, uncertain looks, their hearts fluttering nervously yet excitedly.

Asher stood quietly, eyes silently meeting Rowena's across the distance.

In both of their gaze was a silent promise, a plea for forgiveness, and a fierce determination to set things right again.

His gaze then turned cold as steel as he gave Drogor a brief, solemn nod.

The old dragon released a deep, rumbling growl from his massive chest and briefly shifted one immense wing forward. From beneath the thick folds of scales and muscle, something fell heavily, hitting the ground like a sack of rotten meat.

Drakar's mutilated body sprawled across the dirt, limbs twisted unnaturally, face grotesquely disfigured. His lower jaw was completely missing, leaving behind a raw, bloody cavity that gaped horribly, gurgling with every shallow breath.

His scalp was a crimson mess, the torn flesh exposing patches of skull beneath blood and dirt.

The gathered Bloodburn survivors gasped sharply in disbelief, eyes wide with shock and horror. Silence spread quickly, thick and suffocating, as their gazes fixed on the monstrous ruin before them.

"Is that...?" someone whispered, voice trembling.

"King Drakar…! That draconian dog!" came another voice, filled with a mixture of awe, terror, and fury. "It's him!"

Rowena's breath quickened as her eyes widened. Her pulse thundered wildly against her chest, a rage she'd suppressed for so long bubbling violently to the surface.

Her fists tightened until her nails bit painfully into her palms, the fury in her eyes blazing hotter with every passing second.

This was the man who destroyed everything she'd ever held dear, who almost stole her precious child. To see him brought so low, broken, and helpless sent a dark, grim satisfaction rushing through her veins.

Asher stepped forward calmly, yet each step carried immense weight, authority and vengeance radiating from every fiber of his being. He reached down, roughly grabbing Drakar by the tattered remains of his collar, and hoisted the mutilated king as if he weighed nothing at all.

"This broken dog," Asher's deep, cold voice rang clearly, carrying through the entire camp, "is the one who took everything from us. He massacred our people, burned our homes, tortured and enslaved our loved ones." His grip tightened, the knuckles of his hand going white. "And he had the audacity to camp over the blood of our people, yrgh!"

A heavy growl escaped his throat as he suddenly flung Drakar's barely conscious body into the center of the gathered survivors. Drakar crashed to the ground with a dull thud, coughing up blood and choking, desperately clawing at the earth as he shakily pushed himself to his knees.

He lifted his head weakly, eyes wide with terror as he stared into the crowd. Blood and drool dribbled from his mangled mouth as he whimpered pathetically, eyes darting around in panic and fear.

Hundreds of pairs of eyes stared back at him, gleaming with a collective fury that burned brighter than any flame. Men, women, and even children glared with hatred so intense, Drakar felt as if their gaze alone could incinerate him.

Asher's voice echoed again, cold and clear, drawing the attention of every survivor gathered. "I have exacted vengeance, but true justice lies not in my hands alone," he declared solemnly. "You, my people, have suffered at his hands," His gaze landed on Rowena as he added, "You, my queen, have borne more pain than anyone else. It is your right to decide his fate."