Chapter 305 Bella's Mother
The Phoenix Empress's fiery aura intensified, making the room swelter with heat. Her small frame radiated an overwhelming presence, causing even the seasoned elders to shift uneasily in their seats.
"To come here, to my empire, and dare to demand anything—who do they think they are?!" she thundered, her voice reverberating throughout the chamber.
The elders exchanged wary glances, their faces betraying a mix of shock and unease. The situation had escalated far beyond what anyone expected.
Chrystia stepped forward, trying to keep her voice calm yet firm. "Mother, I think it would be wise to let them meet my older sister. That young man is… extremely dangerous. His potential and power might even surpass yours."
Her words hung heavily in the air.
Phoenix Empress Claudia's eyes narrowed, her fiery gaze cutting into Chrystia. "We'll see about that," she said, her tone icy despite the heat around her. "Summon Celeste and that vile spawn to the court immediately."
Her command was swift and absolute. The butler and attendants scurried out of the chamber to relay her orders.
Amidst the tension, Helios stood frozen, his mind reeling. Chrystia's words echoed in his head: His potential and power might even surpass yours.
He couldn't believe it—the young man from back then had truly grown to such unimaginable heights.
Helios had always dismissed the tales surrounding Emperor Zero's rise to power. He thought them to be exaggerated legends, the kind of stories spun by desperate followers to glorify their leader. But now, hearing Chrystia's words and the solemn atmosphere that filled the chamber, he began to doubt his own convictions.
The realization hit him like a thunderbolt: this "Emperor Zero" was the same young man he had arrogantly threatened to kill just weeks ago.
A chill crept up his spine. Despite all his arrogance, the thought of someone surpassing the Phoenix Empress—was deeply unsettling. For the first time in decades, Helios felt an emotion unfamiliar to him: fear.
He stood frozen, his mind racing.
What would happen if that young man had truly become that strong?
The image of the Rebel Emperor's piercing gaze and the devastating power that supposedly lay at his fingertips consumed Helios's thoughts.
Won't the Rebel Emperor kill me as effortlessly as swatting a fly?
The smug confidence that had always defined him was now shattered. Helios suddenly realized that all his pride and strength meant nothing in the face of such overwhelming power. For the first time, he found himself questioning whether he would even survive this encounter.
Like a cautious cat, Helios hesitantly started to follow the summons, every step weighed down by doubt.
Is it really worth risking my life for a woman? he questioned himself.
But as his gaze flickered toward the Sky Phoenix Queen, her mocking expression pierced him like a dagger.
Disdain.
She despised him—for his hesitation, his cowardice.
The realization burned hotter than any flame. How could he endure this humiliation? His dragon pride and arrogance wouldn't allow it.
His nostrils flared, his eyes burned with fury, and his dragon scales surfaced on his skin, gleaming faintly as if to proclaim his courage. He straightened his posture, trying to mask his fear with a show of strength.
Chrystia, watching the tension unfold, couldn't help but smirk inwardly.
She was fully aware of the feud between Zero and Helios, and anticipation bubbled within her.
What will happen when these two meet?
Though deep in her heart, she silently wished for Helios to meet his demise at Zero's hands. She harbored no sympathy for the Fire Dragon King, whose arrogance and entitlement had always been a source of her irritation.
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Aengus' clone had scoured various locations but found nothing of value, so he dismissed it, turning his focus to the summons by the Phoenix Empress herself.
Bella and Aengus followed a maid along the corridors. Their expressions remained calm and unworried, though Aengus was ever-alert for unexpected surprises.
With his special eyes activated, Aengus discreetly scanned every corner of the palace, even underground areas, searching for anything useful.
The maid, walking ahead of them, began to grow uneasy. She couldn't help but notice his gaze flicker toward her repeatedly.
Why is he looking at me like that? she wondered nervously.
The man was undeniably handsome, and the woman beside him was stunningly beautiful, far beyond her own charms.
Could it be that I'm attractive enough to catch his attention? Why didn't I realize this before?
Her cheeks flushed as her insecurity shadowed with a strange sense of pride.
Little did she know that Aengus' focused gaze wasn't directed at her at all but was simply part of his ceaseless vigilance.
"Please, enter, honored guests," the maid said, stopping in front of a large, ornate entrance flanked by two imposing female guards.
The guards, with their sharp, hawk-like eyes and crossed arms, exuded an aura of sheer dominance. Their muscular frames and unyielding stance suggested they could crush anyone who dared step out of line.
Bella, unfazed by their intimidating presence, glanced at the door and then at the guards.
"Hello?" she said curtly, signaling with her eyes for them to open the door.
The female guards exchanged a glance, before stepping aside. One pushed the heavy door open with a single fluid motion, revealing the grand hall beyond.
"Welcome," another said, her voice as firm as her stance.
Aengus and Bella entered the grand hall, leaving the bewildered maid behind.
The hall was majestic, with its fiery red and gold décor reflecting the Phoenix Empire's grandeur.
At first glance, Aengus's eyes fell upon the regal throne in the center, where a little girl with a fiery aura sat like a volcano ready to erupt. The intensity of her presence caught him off guard.
Curious, Aengus used Appraisal, and his expression turned momentarily speechless. This small child was the true Phoenix Empress—reborn through their clan's unique innate ability of rebirth.
Bella, however, didn't even glance at the throne. Her instincts guided her eyes toward a thin woman in a simple white dress, standing a little distance away from the throne, surrounded by an air of fragility and isolation.
Her heart skipped a beat as recognition dawned.
"Mother!" Bella exclaimed, her voice filled with a mix of joy and sorrow.
Without hesitation, she rushed forward, wrapping her arms around the frail frame of her mother, Celeste, holding her tightly as if to shield her from the world.
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