Chapter 1350: Thoughts
Chapter 1350: Thoughts
"I’ve waited long enough. Any longer, and we might lose the initiative."
The woman nodded calmly. She didn’t seem particularly surprised by his words.
"Are you certain?" she asked. "Once you do this, there won’t be any turning back."
"I know."
The man stood up and casually brushed the wrinkles from his clothes.
"That’s why I’ve decided to use my Grid."
The woman’s expression finally changed, if only slightly. She understood the weight behind those words. The Grid wasn’t something that could be casually activated and then withdrawn. Once deployed, it would set countless events into motion, and the consequences would be impossible to reverse.
"Understood," she replied.
The man gave her a brief nod before turning his attention toward the darkness beyond the room.
It was time.
"Everyone."
His voice wasn’t particularly loud, yet it carried clearly through the silence.
"All Zodiacs, listen."
Somewhere beyond the room, several presences stirred. One after another, their attention turned toward him.
The man stood with his hands in his pockets, his expression as calm as ever.
"This is Leo speaking."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"From this moment onward, we’ll begin our operation. I’ve waited long enough for this opportunity, and I’m not going to let it slip away."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Prepare yourselves. My Grid will be activated. I don’t care how you do it. Scatter throughout the Giza Continent and prepare for war. It doesn’t matter if you’re discovered or not. We no longer need to hide."
A brief silence followed.
"There is no turning back now."
The room fell silent once again after Leo finished speaking.
The woman remained standing before him, seemingly waiting for further instructions. However, Leo didn’t immediately say anything. Instead, he walked toward the window at the far end of the room and gazed into the darkness beyond it.
"By the way, what’s the latest situation in the Giza Continent?"
"The plague is still spreading," the woman answered promptly. "Several kingdoms have already descended into chaos. Even the major organizations are struggling to contain it. Their healers and alchemists have tried countless methods, but none have managed to develop an effective cure."
"I see..."
Leo rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
He had been keeping an eye on the situation in the Giza Continent for some time. Initially, he hadn’t paid much attention to it. Plagues weren’t particularly uncommon in a world filled with supernatural beings and extraordinary powers. There were countless ways to spread diseases, and even more ways to create them.
However, this particular plague was different.
It wasn’t simply difficult to cure. It was almost as if the plague itself actively resisted every attempt to eliminate it. Even powerful healing spells and purification techniques had achieved little success. Those who managed to suppress its symptoms would eventually find the infection returning, sometimes in an even more dangerous form.
"Strange..." Leo muttered.
His eyes narrowed as he recalled something from the distant past.
"This reminds me of one of those ancient beings."
The woman tilted her head slightly.
"Are you referring to the Plague God?"
"Who else?"
Leo chuckled softly.
The Plague God was an existence from an era long forgotten by most people. Even among ancient beings, its name carried considerable weight. It wasn’t merely a powerful entity capable of spreading diseases. Its very existence was intertwined with the concept of plague itself.
If the current outbreak was truly connected to that being, then it was no wonder the entire continent was struggling to deal with it.
"Do you intend to meet the Plague God?" the woman asked. "After all, you also met the Underground King shortly after he was unsealed."
Hearing that, Leo couldn’t help but laugh.
"Hahaha! That fellow?"
He shook his head, seemingly amused by the memory.
"Now, that was an interesting encounter. I still remember the expression on its face when it realized who it was dealing with."
The Underground King had only recently been unsealed at the time. It had emerged from its long imprisonment with the arrogance of an ancient ruler, believing that the world should once again bow before it.
Unfortunately, its first encounter with Leo hadn’t gone as expected.
"That monster must’ve felt humiliated," Leo said with a grin. "Imagine being sealed away for countless years, only to have your grand return interrupted by someone like me."
The woman smiled faintly but didn’t interrupt him.
"Still, I won’t underestimate it. The Underground King was a formidable existence at its peak. Even now, I doubt there are many beings who could face it without proper preparation."
His smile gradually faded.
Ancient beings were called ancient for a reason. Their power, experience, and understanding of the world were things that ordinary experts could hardly comprehend. Even if they had been weakened by the passage of time or prolonged imprisonment, they remained incredibly dangerous opponents.
Leo turned away from the window and returned to the table.
"Anyway, what about the God’s Continent?"
"The situation there has also become rather interesting," the woman replied. "According to our latest information, that little goblin has been causing quite a commotion."
"Oh?"
Leo raised an eyebrow.
"The little goblin, huh?"
He leaned against the table, crossing his arms as he contemplated the news.
He had already heard about the disturbances in the God’s Continent. Apparently, that little fellow had been making quite a name for himself, attracting the attention of several powerful factions.
Leo couldn’t help but find it amusing.
"That little guy really doesn’t know how to stay quiet."
He tapped his fingers against the table.
The God’s Continent was certainly worth visiting. There were plenty of things happening there, and some of them might prove relevant to his upcoming plans.
However, he also had the Giza Continent to consider.
The plague was becoming increasingly troublesome, and if it truly involved the Plague God, ignoring it might lead to unnecessary complications later.
"Should I pay the God’s Continent a visit before starting my plan?"
Leo muttered to himself.
He glanced at the woman, who remained patiently waiting for his decision.
For a moment, he weighed his options.
Visiting the God’s Continent might prove worthwhile. Meeting the little goblin again could also be entertaining. On the other hand, the situation in the Giza Continent was a more pressing concern.
Eventually, he chuckled.
"Well, I suppose I’ve been sitting around for long enough."
His eyes gleamed faintly beneath the dim light.
"Let’s see how things unfold. I might as well take a little trip before everything begins."
The woman nodded.
"As you wish, Leo."
He waved his hand dismissively.
"Don’t look so serious. We still have some time before the Grid is activated."
Leo glanced toward the ceiling, his expression returning to its usual calmness.
"Besides, it would be a shame to miss all the interesting things happening in this world before turning everything upside down."
...
Far away from the Giza Continent and the God’s Continent, within the vast territory known as Demon’s Land, stood a magnificent castle.
It was an enormous structure built from dark crimson stones, with towering spires stretching toward the heavens. Its walls were adorned with intricate carvings depicting ancient demons and scenes of bloody wars. Countless demonic runes covered its surface, pulsating faintly with an ominous red glow.
This was Crimson Malice Castle, the seat of one of the most terrifying beings in Demon’s Land.
Inside the castle’s grand throne room, a demon sat silently upon an enormous throne.
His eyes were closed, and his posture was relaxed, as though he were simply taking a nap. However, the atmosphere surrounding him was anything but peaceful. Space itself seemed to distort around his body, while an oppressive aura permeated the entire chamber.
He possessed a muscular build and crimson-red skin. White lines resembling countless cracks stretched across his entire body, extending from his face down to his torso and limbs. They looked like fractures in a shattered sculpture, yet faint traces of mysterious energy could be seen flowing through them.
He wore exquisite black and red armor that covered his chest and shoulders. Its intricate craftsmanship was unlike anything forged by ordinary blacksmiths. Sharp protrusions extended from its edges, while ancient demonic symbols were engraved across its surface.
His pointed ears were slightly elongated, and three enormous horns protruded from his head. Behind his muscular torso were two pairs of arms, each resting comfortably against the armrests of his throne.
He remained motionless for a long time.
Then, suddenly, his eyelids lifted.
A pair of crimson eyes emerged, carrying an indescribable depth. They seemed to contain the destruction of countless worlds, yet there wasn’t a trace of emotion within them.
"Beelzebub has left the Imperium..."
His deep voice echoed throughout the empty throne room.
The demon leaned slightly against his throne.
"Demon King Beelzebub, huh? I wonder what prompted him to leave."
He didn’t seem particularly concerned. After all, Beelzebub was a Demon King in his own right. There were very few things in the Imperium that could force such an existence to make a personal appearance.
Nevertheless, the news had caught his attention.
He slowly turned his head.
His gaze pierced through the enormous walls of Crimson Malice Castle, effortlessly bypassing the countless defensive formations and barriers protecting the structure. His vision traveled across vast distances, eventually settling in the direction of a particular location.
The Heavenly Demon Palace.
"Hmm..."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Could this be related to that place?"