Published at 26th of April 2026 7:54 am

Chapter 1696 True Face

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Leland and Alain soared through the clouds, their figures cutting across the sky.

They had utterly grim looks on their faces. And why would they not? The Cult Leader had just declared that the final phase of the war would be set into motion.

"This is too early!" Leland said in a grim voice. He did a quick calculation and added, "There should still be about fifty-three years till the planetary alignment. Why now!"

"It is not unexpected, Leland." A line creased across the Wind Lord's brow. The pair flew at their fastest speed as they rapidly approached the secret plane. "Just think about how many Magi the boy has killed already," he added. "I can't say I'm surprised at our master's decision. He means to completely destroy the enemy."

"Don't you think he's being hasty?" Leland couldn't help but say.

"Not at all." Alain shook his head slowly.

He turned to his fellow Elder and added, "Our Master has been planning this for years. Everything is prepared. So what if the plan has been moved forward by a few decades? The outcome will be the same, nonetheless."

Leland did not reply, choosing instead to remain silent. But his expression betrayed his inner feelings. He couldn't help but feel a foreboding gnaw at his heart. He couldn't quite put a finger on it, but something was truly bothering him. He was feeling restless.

Alain observed him with narrowed eyes. "What's the matter? You seem quite surprised over something that we've extensively planned for."

Emperor Leland could feel the suspicion dripping in his voice. He snapped toward him and said with a cold look in his eyes, "What are you insinuating?"

The Wind Lord intently studied the man. Then he snorted in ridicule before picking up speed and passing through the secret plane's barrier.

Leland's face twisted into a scowl. The Cult was now filled with people looking at one another with distrust. And he hated the look that Alain had just given him.

Amidst heavy thoughts, he, too, passed through the barrier. In the distance, a giant black tower rose from the earth. It looked as if an ominous spear was thrust into the heavens above.

Soon, he entered the Cult Leader's Magus tower.

***

The throne room was vast and cold.

Leland and Alain arrived at the topmost level of the tower, hoping to be granted an audience with the Cult Leader.

But they found that the throne was empty.

The pair exchanged glances, then slowly walked toward the arched doorway beside the throne. The corridor was dark and gloomy, as if they were stepping into the maw of a dreadful beast. The deeper they went, the colder the air became.

It wasn't a drop in the temperature, however. No, it was something else. Something primal. It was fear that seemed to have originated from a foreign place.

Leland couldn't help but involuntarily clench his fists. He thought to himself with a grim look on his face, This feeling... he truly is serious about it!

The corridor sloped downward in a spiral. Soon, they arrived at a vast chamber. It was dimly lit, and the source of illumination was unknown. When the pair entered, their gazes immediately found the lich.

"Great Master." Leland and Alain got down on one knee, their heads bowed in deference.

The lich stood at the center of the chamber. A giant runic formation carved in blood lay before him. The symbols were carved in Infernac. And the blood looked fresh.

Dressed in dark robes, the lich turned his head ever so slightly. His bony visage became visible briefly under the shadows of his cowl. His jaws parted, and he said in a cold voice:

"Where is Marden?"

"My Lord," Leland respectfully began. "The last time I spoke with him, he had reached Ulier. He should be in Hannes City."

"Summon his voice," said the lich.

"At once, my lord." Leland retrieved a communication artifact, adjusted a few runes on it, and then poured it with his mana.

Several seconds passed until finally, a hazy, illusory face was projected from the artifact.

"Leland," the illusory face spoke. "What is it?"

"Master wishes to speak with you," Leland said solemnly.

The illusory face, which belonged to none other than Marden Benton, stiffened at those words. "Great Master," he said in a reverential voice. "How may I

serve?"

"What is the status of the portal?" The ominous green orbs in the depths of the lich's sockets flickered.

"It is untouched, my lord," Marden said. "The Acadian Empire sent a few Magi to guard this place. But other than that, nothing. The portal remains functional

still."

The lich paused for a brief moment, then said, "Mabi?"

"Yes." Marden nodded. "I stopped by on the way. The portal there remains functional as well. Although..."

"What?" The lich's voice turned cold, and Leland and Alain couldn't help but involuntarily tremble.

"A two-tailed fox has made the region around the portal its den," Marden said. "It seems to have been drawn by the rich mana spilling from the portal."

"Will it be a problem?"

"No, my lord." Marden was certain. "It cannot enter the cube. It is too big. It seems to be happy just lying beside it."

The Blood Lord paused for a moment. "The portal in Indus is functional too. I checked on it before I left. Now, I shall be heading to Nahua. All that's left is to examine the portals under Aranal and the one in Yen-Lu."

"Make haste," the lich said before turning back around.

"Your wish is my command." With that, the Marden's illusory face flickered out

of existence.

Hearing their conversation, Leland's expression turned utterly grave. He thought to himself solemnly, It really is happening!

The lich raised his bony hands and weaved hand seals with such speed and precision that everything below the elbow joints turned invisible. Not even a shadowy blur. Just invisible.

A few moments later, the chamber trembled ever so slightly. The bloody runes on the ground lit up one after another, dyeing the room in an eerie crimson. The darkness stirred. Then it came to life. It rose from the center of the runic formation, coalescing into a giant face. But this time, the face was no longer

just made of shadows.

Although it was just a projection, the face had been given form, Blood and flesh.

When Leland laid his eyes upon this face, he instinctively knew that this was a being who could snuff his life with a wave of his hand.

The devil's true face had been made manifest!

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