CHAPTER 743: RICH AGAIN

Seeing the faces filled with confusion and disbelief, Konstantine took a deep breath and cast a sharp gaze across the battlefield. His eyes swept over the assembled Legends and High Legends, lingering only when they landed on the one being capable of challenging his words and authority—the massive draconic Superior Legend.

With calm certainty, Konstantine spoke.

"He is Vlad Xaos, the Hero of Wrath of the Land of the Three Calamities. He was the first to march into the Voidheart Stronghold, and his companion—the World Serpent, Jormungandr—was the one who destroyed the fortress’s core tower, bringing the war to its end."

The atmosphere changed instantly.

The war between the Golden Sky Fortress and the Voidheart Stronghold was infamous. Its implications had reached beyond the Doomsday World. While it was well known that the Graecia Empire emerged victorious, the final battle had remained shrouded in mystery. Whispers circulated, but no one knew the details.

That is, until now.

The battle had ended less than a year ago, and the echoes of it were still spreading. The name "Depravita" had already carved a niche for itself within the Doomsday World, but it was only just beginning to reach the core worlds of the Graecia Empire. Full recognition across the universe would take time—but that time had clearly begun.

Konstantine’s voice continued, unwavering.

"Traditionally, the ascension of a Duke is a sacred event, held only in the imperial capital, Constantinopla. But this time, the Emperor himself issued a decree—he broke tradition to name Vlad Xaos a Duke of the Graecia Empire."

A collective gasp rippled through the assembled warriors.

Their eyes widened with realization. For the Emperor to personally bypass customs that had stood for millennia signaled just how exceptional Vlad—and his race, the Depravita—truly were. It was not merely a gesture of respect; it was an acknowledgment of unprecedented power and significance.

Vlad, though maintaining his stoic expression, allowed a smile to flicker behind his calm gaze. Despite being unable to attend the traditional ceremony, he had still been officially recognized. The title of Duke would not only elevate his personal status but would dramatically smooth the path of his kingdom’s establishment in the Higher Dimension.

The massive dragon seemed to weigh the information. Dragons were known for their pride, but they were also ancient beings who understood power and respected strength. Even without having met Vlad before, the Superior Legend could not ignore the accomplishments tied to his name.

At last, the dragon lowered his head slightly and rumbled, "I am Azur. It is a pleasure to meet you, young man."

With those words, Azur lifted a claw and summoned a large, radiant rock the size of a house. He sent it floating toward Vlad, its surface glowing with compressed cosmic energy.

"This should be sufficient to pay the ransom for my foolish descendant," he said plainly.

The High Legends gasped. When they recognized the item, their expressions grew grim. If that was the standard for ransom payment, they knew they would be in deep trouble.

Vlad, though unfamiliar with the object’s true identity, could feel the overwhelming energy surging through it. Without hesitation, he stored it within his spatial vault and nodded with a small but genuine smile.

"It was also a pleasure meeting you, Elder Azur."

The Superior Legend Dragon offered a faint smile before turning his gaze upon the Legendary Dragon. His expression soured, his eyes burning with disappointment.

The Legendary Dragon visibly flinched and lowered his head in shame.

"Hmph," Azur scoffed before his energy flared and enveloped both himself and the disgraced dragon. A moment later, they transformed into radiant light and vanished from Terra.

As silence returned to the field, Vlad turned toward the remaining High Legends. His expression remained composed, but the smile on his face chilled their hearts. It was a smile not born of arrogance—but of dominance, confidence, and justified expectation.

One by one, the High Legends sighed, accepting the gravity of their mistake. They opened their personal treasuries and brought forth what wealth they could—rare minerals, divine weapons, spiritual fruits, enchanted artifacts.

While none of their offerings could match the rock from Azur, Vlad accepted them without issue. He understood the difference between capturing a few reckless Legends and detaining High Legends bound to powerful cosmic organizations. There was a line that could not be crossed without consequences.

With a wave of his hand, he collected the offerings and gestured for them to leave.

The High Legends did not hesitate. They gathered their younger members and departed Terra at once, retreating across the sky.

In the end, only two outsiders remained: Konstantine and the bloodied but silent Leandro.

Vlad turned toward the elder and inhaled deeply. His body trembled slightly as Jormungandr slowly unraveled from his fused form, slithering out through the glowing eye and returning to his independent form. With the separation complete, Vlad’s features returned to his original appearance.

A wave of exhaustion swept through him.

"The transformation is immensely powerful," Vlad thought to himself, "but it places tremendous strain on my soul and the Depravita Star. I’ll need to be cautious when using it again."

He turned his gaze back to Konstantine.

"Would you like to come into my tower," he asked, "so we can speak calmly?"

There was still much he needed to know about the current state of the Graecia Empire. More importantly, with Konstantine’s cooperation, he might gain swift access to the Empire’s main world—a priceless opportunity for the Xaos Kingdom’s future.

"Of course," Konstantine said with a slight smile, nodding with respect. He then threw a sharp glance at Leandro, who remained silently at his side, clearly still shaken from earlier events.

Together, they followed Vlad into Xaos Tower, the obsidian spire that loomed above the heart of the kingdom.

It didn’t take long for them to reach the highest level, where a round table awaited them within a serene chamber.

The tension from before was gone, replaced by a stillness that mirrored the aftermath of a storm.

Where once the skies had cracked with battle and energy, now only peace remained.