Just as Shane had anticipated, once the situation here was reported back to the Imperial City, the Imperial City immediately thought of the destruction of the Lefirut Family from last night, and of the mysterious, cloak-wearing powerhouse. A force of ten thousand from the Imperial Knight Order was dispatched without delay to investigate.
Unfortunately, when the knights from the Imperial Knight Order arrived at the scene, all they saw was a scene similar to the ruins of the Lefirut Family home, only on a larger scale with a broader range of suffering and damage.
They then discovered the corpses buried under the meteor shower and also Moro's secret base.
They didn't know what had happened, only that something catastrophic seemed to have occurred.
Consequently, the Imperial Knight Order hurriedly reported back to the Imperial City, to let the upper echelons make their judgements.
Of course, that was a later development.
At present, all of this had yet to transpire.
Though the knights of the Imperial Knight Order indeed had mounts to ride, naturally they couldn't compare in speed to Shane's instant teleportation.
Therefore, if they wanted to resolve the situation here, they would need to go through some trouble.
However, just as Shane had anticipated, as soon as the curse unknown to others was triggered on the High Priest, the culprit in a far-off location knew everything immediately.
"Has it been exposed already?"
Deep in the mountains, a woman in white, barefoot like a ghost, suddenly lifted her head and looked towards the direction of the Imperial City, a strange light flickering in her eyes.
In front of her, Danass was still present, playing with a stone that emitted a mysterious and sinister aura, surrounded by a few Demon Warriors. Seeing Moro's move, he seemed to understand something and started to laugh.
"It seems someone has made a move on your side."
It appeared that Danass knew very well about Moro's plans.
"It doesn't matter," Moro said indifferently: "I never put my hopes in that old undead. If it hadn't been impossible for me to deal with her, I would have taken care of her long ago."
"Is that so?" Danass, not sure whether to believe or doubt, shrugged and said, "But without that old undead, you're going to have quite the headache in the future, aren't you?"
"As long as this plan succeeds, the impact will be completely erased, and I will no longer need that old undead." Moro suddenly smiled and said, "If it weren't for that, I wouldn't have quietly cursed her."
It was precisely because Moro was almost done with the High Priest, that she had placed a curse on her, lest she spoil her plans.
While Danass said this, his face showed little concern.
An old undead who had clung to life for thousands of years and one who feared death so much, he actually looked down on her.
If it hadn't been for the fact that she did manage to create an astonishing Death Spirit, Danass might not have even paid her any attention.
Hence, whether the High Priest lived or died wasn't something he cared too much about.
What Danass was really concerned with was something else.
"The Lefirut were destroyed by a meteor shower, and your secret base too. It seems that man really did go to the Empire, just as you expected," Danass said with interest while fidgeting with the mysterious stone in his hand. "I have some recent information that suggests that the Dragon Demon has gone back to the Demon Realm, the Kingdom Treasure has returned to the Kingdom, and he should only have an Evil God left by his side."
But even with just that Evil God, the threat was more than enough.
At the very least, Moro was definitely unable to withstand it.
Let alone the Evil God, even facing that Hero, Moro would have quite a difficult time.
"Are you still planning to go back?"
Danass seemed to be probing Moro.
Moro remained unmoved.
Because the answer was already decided.
"If I don't go back now, the game I've carefully laid out will be completely lost," said Moro, her eyes flickering. "After a thousand years of effort, I've finally reached this point. How could I possibly give up?"
It was simply not an option.
Let alone one Evil God, even if the Three Great Goddesses and the Six Great Demons all came, Moro would not give up.
And if her plan succeeded, then even the mightiest Evil God would be of no concern to her anymore.
Danass was also aware of part of Moro's plan.
"The Branch of Resurgence, huh?"
Danass showed intense interest.
"The original material body containing the power of the Supreme God, I really would like to see it for myself."
Hearing this, Moro looked towards Danass.
"What is it, Young Master Danass?" Moro asked with a Jovial tone, "Have you taken a liking to the Branch of Resurgence?"
Hearing Moro's query, Danass quickly waved his hands and shook his head, his face full of exaggerated terror.
"I wouldn't dare covet the Imperial Concubine's possession," Danass feigned fear and laughed, "Besides, that thing might only be a somewhat special material to me, but to you, it's everything. How could I compete with you for it?"
"Enough, Young Master, I know you look down on the Branch of Resurgence," said Moro, unconvinced. "The 'outcome' we each seek is the same, but the processes and means are worlds apart. What I'm prepared to do holds no appeal for you, especially since you're now actually accumulating results and are not far from success."
"It's just a bit too slow," Danass didn't deny it, and laughed, "I've been waiting for far too long."
"If that's how it is, I've been waiting even longer, haven't I?" Moro chuckled, covering her mouth, "I'm going back to the Empire to have a good meeting with that Hero from a thousand years ago."
"Be careful, okay?" Danass said, feigning concern, "Dealing with that one, one might inadvertently be swept into an unimaginable vortex."
"A vortex?" Moro's smile faded, her words laden with meaning. "Are you referring to that master and servant?"
"They are in the Empire now, aren't they?" Danass likewise suggested meaningfully, "Though they are powerless to do much at the moment, they are, after all, related to 'that'. You cannot deny this."
Moro's eyes flickered once again.
However, this time, there was a trace of apprehension visible in her eyes.
Evidently, what Danass had said found its way to Moro.
"There's also..." Danass said carelessly, "The very existence of the Hero himself is a significant issue. Nobody knows why the Hero Summoning, which should have been sealed away, has reemerged in this era."
"You mean..." Moro frowned.
"I mean that he is ultimately an unpredictable factor," Danass asserted forcefully, "Our plans are nearing success, even the grueling creation plan of the Primordial Demon is in its final stage, the era should be changing under our control. However, just at this moment, the Hero is summoned after a millennium. It's hardly conceivable that there isn't a reason behind this."
She knew that Danass's concerns were valid.
The true threat to be wary of were not the strongest Evil Gods, nor even the Three Great Goddesses and the Six Great Demons, but rather, the Hero.
Danass had said so too.
"For countless years, Heroes have always been at the very center of the world."
"They are visitors from the Otherworld, godsent miracles. Even if it took countless years, they eventually succeeded in defeating the Demon King, bringing about a momentous impact on this world."
"Humanity was created in their image."
"The Mitra Kingdom and the Ragna Empire were legacies they left behind."
"The descendants of a Hero hold great status in this world."
"They are on par with the Supreme God and the Demon King, the very embodiment of an 'uncontrollable factor'."
Danass looked towards Moro.
"Perhaps Shane Beizitu is not yet at a Transcend Level, and with our current power, we might manage to contend with him for the time being."
"But don't forget, the truly frightening aspect of Heroes is their capacity to invoke miracles. In critical moments, they often lead to astonishing outcomes."
"You wouldn't want to capsize in the gutter, would you? My ally!"
This was Danass's cautionary advice.
Moro knew his counsel was sound.
"Don't praise those detestable Heroes so highly in front of me, my ally."
Moro looked extremely displeased.
Her most hated beings were the Heroes, and it was they whom she despised the most, desiring nothing more than to degrade them to the lowest of existences. Why would she want to hear Danass extol their virtues?
Danass felt helpless.
His ally was all-around excellent: strategic, courageous, skilled, and ruthlessly unemotional. It was just the obsession with Heroes that was a bit much.
Whenever it involved topics related to Heroes, this ally would engage in unfathomable actions.
Like in that secret base's underground chamber, the Princess of the Empire could have been exploited in better ways, yet she insisted on torturing her, flogging her, ensuring she suffered greatly, which was indeed incomprehensible.
He actually worried, upon encountering Shane, whether this ally of his would lose control and, thus, capsize in the gutter.
That's why he had spoken out with a warning.
Regrettably, it seemed to fall on deaf ears.
But upon reflection, it was also quite expected that she wouldn't care.
"You really don't take your own safety seriously, do you?"
Danass suddenly shifted his tone, and with a smile, he uttered a sentence to Moro.
"Are you ready to give everything over to 'your true master'?"
When such words emanated from Danass's mouth, Moro's expression changed.
Became incredibly cold.
Moro looked at Danass, her eyes revealing a sharp murderous intent.
"Ah, truly frightening," Danass quickly raised his hands in a gesture of surrender and said, "I was merely curious about what should be done with my ally."
"You needn't concern yourself, young master," Moro spoke not with her former smirking demeanor but with a chilliness, "Once everything is successful, you may do as you please."
"In that case, I am reassured." Danass smiled faintly and made a gentlemanly bow to Moro, saying, "Well then, when it all ends, I will be there to welcome you in the Imperial City."
Moro did not respond.
There was no need to.
Since Danass already knew, anything more she said would be futile.
And so, Moro turned and slowly faded away, as if a phantom.
Danass watched this scene and gradually reined in his smile.
He touched the stone in his hand and murmured to himself.
"I need to accelerate the pace..."