Chapter 335
The Oracle invaded Zaiperโs chamber, standing before him like an ancient, avenging angel, fury burning in her eyes.
โThis must be a dream,โ Zaiper said, trying to conceal his fear. โYou shouldnโt be here.โ
Her intense gaze bored into him. โWhy have you not confessed to your heinous crimes?โ
โSurely, you didnโt really believe I would?โ His laugh was humorless as he sat up abruptly. โDaemonikai would tear my soul from my body!โ
โIt would be less than you deserve, you despicable creature!โ she hissed. โYou are a disgrace to the Dragaxlov name! Your great-grandfather would writhe in his grave!โ
Zaiper glared, feeling like a chastised child. He hated it.
โHowever, if you confess, if you come clean, I may intervene to ensure your survival,โ she said in a steadier voice. โYou will pay for your sins for centuries, but you will retain your life. All you have to do is stand before the nation you betrayed and bring your crimes to light.โ
โI decline your offer.โ
โYou cowardly fool.โ
โI know your motives. You donโt want to die, do you? Thatโs why youโre pushing me to confess.โ He laughed maniacally. โNice try.โ
โI do not engage in frivolous discourse with frightened children. This minor ritual, performed to be here in spirit, is a final courtesy to your lineage. Go to court and confess.โ
โYou cannot force me to do this!โ Zaiper roared, leaping from his bed, furious. โAll I ever wanted was to rule! To provide the people with the life they deserve, to conquer nations and kingdoms, to have the entire world groveling at our feet! What is wrong with that?โ
The Oracle remained motionless and silent.
โWe are Urekai!โ His chest heaved, his eyes wild. โThe rest of the world should tremble before us! We should unleash our beasts upon the world, dominating and destroying all who stand in our path! This is our nature, our birthright!โ
He clenched his fists, spitting the name like a curse. โBut Daemonikaiโฆ he restrains us. Made us appear weak. Tamed us.โ His rage intensified as he stepped closer. โJust as with every Urekai who has gone feral, I thought his madness would be his end, so I slaughtered his family. Oh, I killed them in the most brutal ways possible, and let me tell you, old womanโฆ I enjoyed every minute of it.โ
Zaiper lunged to shove her, but his hands passed through her form like mist.
โArgh! Fucking old lady!โ He stumbled, struggling to regain his balance.
She watched him with a blank expression.
โDo you know what I enjoyed most?โ He ran his tongue over his lips. โWatching the humans bind Kristoff to a tree as I stood before him, looking my dear brother in the eyes as I told himโThe Northern Throne will never be yoursโjust before I beheaded him.โ
Pure fury contorted the Oracleโs features.
Now that he had begun speaking, he couldnโt stop. It felt so damn good to say it aloud.
โAnd the look of betrayal on his face?โ Zaiper cackled. โThe pain in his eyes as he breathed his last? Poetic.โ
The Oracleโs lips tightened. โYou accursed monster.โ
โWhich reminds meโฆ where is his son?โ
There was no reaction, none that Zaiper expected.
โYou see, it never really bothered me because the boy has remained hidden for over two millennia. Iโm certain heโs out there somewhere, living his pathetic little life. He would never dare set foot in this fortress and declare himself Kristoff Dragaxlovโs heir,โ he stated, grinning. โBut still, I would very much like to know his whereabouts.โ
โAnd you genuinely think I will tell you that?โ
โNo, no, of course not. I know you wonโt, which is a pity.โ Zaiper clicked his tongue. โI wouldโve enjoyed gutting him as well. Make sure no one else comes for my throne while I continue to plot my conquest of all the clans!โ
โLook what hunger for power has done to you,โ she said with disgust, shaking her head. โGreed. Unmitigated wickedness.โ
Zaiper backed to the edge of his bed and sat. โYou know the best part of it all? They have no idea.โ His body shook with laughter. โI stay in the shadows, weaving my webs, playing my games, orchestrating countless conspiracies, achieving victory upon victory, and yetโฆ They. Have. No. Idea.โ
He laughed so hard, tears streamed down his face. โIโm very clever, you see. I leave no trace, no trail, nothing. I make it look so natural. Take a look at Daemonikaiโhe mounted his female into a half-dead state, but because heโs a feral survivor, he has no idea what to think. Is it a resurgence? Dark magic? Or was it all that crazy maze-trap mind of his? He treads uncharted territory.โ Zapier wiped his tears. โI thought of all those things quite carefully, decidingโฆ it was worth using up my last favors. The perfect plan. How was the big bad beast supposed to know it was all me?โ He shook his head, marveling at his own cleverness. โEven you, Old Lady, have to admit Iโm a genius.โ
The Oracle looked even more repulsed.
โAnd now, he plans to start another family.โ Zaiper barked another laugh. โI have no plan in mind yet, but I can tell you the end. Iโll lie in wait for the pretty princessโs belly to swell fully. Perhaps seven months? Eight? Then Iโll capture her, plunge my hand into her pathetic human body, and rip the little one out of her.โ
Something dark and deadly flickered across the Oracleโs face.
โI may take her sister too, I donโt know. It will be entertaining, wouldnโt you agree?โ He tapped his finger against his knee. โJust like Evie watched me slay her son before I ended her, I will extend the same fate to the human princesses.โ
The old lady finally moved, closing the distance until she stood so near he could feel the power emanating from her.