The Supreme Overlord (Multicross)

Deep within the underground ruins, a small group was taking a much-needed break.

"Phew, I never expected the guards of this place to be so formidable. They remind me of the ancient weapons in the Mehelgal Number 9 Ruins." Liana Caruana panted heavily, a look of lingering fear on her face.

Not far behind her lay the shattered remains of a massive construct that resembled a metallic statue. Nearby, even the mercenaries were resting after the battle.

Although Gajou Akatsuki appeared just as exhausted, his spirits remained high. He laughed heartily and said, "Miss Liana, are you referring to the Nalakuvera discovered in the Mehelgal Number 9 Ruins?"

Liana nodded slightly. "Yes, those things. Although we couldn't activate the ancient weapons due to the lack of operational instructions."

"According to the research of the academy, however, they are quite terrifying. If activated, they would surely cause unimaginable destruction. Truly, they are the weapons of the devas..." She added. "But I didn't expect you, Dr. Akatsuki, to be knowledgeable about these ancient weapons."

Akatsuki shrugged. "Well, I am an archaeologist, after all. I know many colleagues in the field, so I hear things through my own channels."

Seeing Akatsuki's casual response, Liana didn't press further. Instead, she turned her gaze to a pair of young siblings who appeared terrified and spoke with a hint of dissatisfaction. "Putting that aside, Dr. Akatsuki, I can't believe you actually brought your son and daughter here. Don't you realize how dangerous this place is?"

"That statue earlier—you must have sensed the danger here." 

She pulled the young girl in the red and white shrine maiden outfit, who looked no older than an elementary school student, into her arms.

The girl, who had been visibly frightened, seemed to calm down somewhat after being comforted in Liana's embrace.

Gajou Akatsuki glanced at his children and sighed. "I only intended to bring Nagisa, but who would have thought this rascal, Kojou, would tag along too."

The boy, called Kojou, who looked like he was just about to enter middle school, couldn't help but retort, "Hey, Dad, not only are you never home, but the first thing you say to your son when you see him is to complain?"

"If this keeps up, Nagisa and I might just forget we even have a father."

Gajou Akatsuki laughed and scolded, "You brat!"

After a brief exchange, Gajou Akatsuki stood up, dusted off his pants, and said to Liana, "Let's go. The end of the ruins should be just ahead."

"Very soon, you'll understand why I brought Nagisa here."

Liana frowned, sensing that the girl named Nagisa Akatsuki possessed extraordinary spiritual power—something she must have been born with.

Spiritual power is a unique human ability that the demonic races cannot acquire. Humans with such power are typically shrine maidens or the like.

Although puzzled, Liana did not question further. She knew Gajou Akatsuki had extensive archaeological experience, and there must be a reason behind his actions.

Soon enough, Liana understood why Gajou Akatsuki had insisted on bringing his daughter.

At the end of the ruins, they encountered an impenetrable barrier.

"This barrier..." Liana touched the barrier before them with a grim expression.

Through her senses, the vampire from the Warlord's Empire could tell that this barrier, despite appearing ancient, still functioned perfectly, as if some entity were continuously supplying it with magical power.

According to her analysis, breaking through this barrier would be extremely difficult. Aside from using large-scale destructive magical weapons to forcibly breach it, the only other option was to dismantle the barrier.

But a barrier related to the Fourth Primogenitor—who could say how long it would take to break it?

"This is why I brought Nagisa here. I suspected there would be a barrier like this at the end." 

"My mother was an exceptional shrine maiden, and my wife was an over-adaptor. While my son and I didn't inherit any remarkable traits, Nagisa possesses both the shrine maiden's and the over-adaptor's talents."

"Nagisa, it's up to you now. But be careful not to overexert yourself. If you can't break the barrier, we'll think of another way."

From Gajou Akatsuki's words, it was clear that despite his nonchalant demeanor, he genuinely cared for his children.

"I understand, Dad..."

Nagisa took a deep breath and stepped up to the barrier. Closing her eyes, she recalled the method her grandmother had taught her for channeling spiritual power.

Gajou Akatsuki, Kojou Akatsuki, and Liana all watched her intently, their faces filled with concern, fearing for the girl's safety.

To their relief, as Nagisa channeled her spiritual energy into the barrier, it began to visibly fade.

Seeing this, everyone breathed a sigh of relief, except Akatsukiya, who frowned and muttered under his breath, "This barrier bears traces of Devas."

"Just as I suspected, when the Devas existed, human spiritual power had a special effect. According to my research, it seems to be related to the Divine Oscillation Effect."

His voice was so low that no one else heard him.

"So cold..."

As the barrier gradually dissipated, even Liana, a vampire, shivered and hugged her arms for warmth.

All except the mercenaries were shivering from the cold.

When the barrier finally vanished completely, a vast pit appeared before them.

The entire pit had been hollowed out, with smooth walls etched with countless magical symbols.

At the center of this cavern, which resembled a massive stalactite chamber, lay a beautiful crystal-like sarcophagus.

Calling it a sarcophagus was misleading—it was more like a giant block of ice shaped like a coffin. Inside, reflecting faint, ethereal light, was what seemed to be a breathtakingly beautiful girl in a deep slumber.

Upon seeing the girl, Liana's expression turned fanatical, and she quickly moved forward.

Gajou Akatsuki tried to stop her but was a step too late. Instead, he held back his children. "Kojou, Nagisa, don't go near that ice coffin! It's dangerous!"

Gajou Akatsuki's expression was grave. At that moment, anyone present could feel the ominous aura emanating from the ice coffin.

It was a curse—an incredibly terrifying curse!

But Liana paid no heed to this. She stumbled to the ice coffin, her expression filled with fervor.

"I've found her, finally found her—the 12th Kaleid Blood!"

"With her, I can once again participate in the ritual and reclaim the body I lost in the past!"

"She's so beautiful, just like Sleeping Princess!" Liana murmured, her eyes glazing over as if she had lost her soul.

Then, in the next moment, her expression twisted into one of madness. "Wake up, Sleeping Princess!"

"The ritual will start soon, and you must fulfill your mission. As your attendant, I will receive the Fourth Progenitor's blessing and restore the glory of the Caruana family!"

Seeing Liana suddenly act as if possessed, the others in the group frowned.

Just then, a calm yet mysterious voice echoed through the spacious cavern:

"Sleeping Princess? Ha, that's quite a nice name. Much better than the 12th Kalein Blood."

"And far more pleasant than Dodekatos!"

Startled by the sudden voice, Liana snapped back to her senses, swiftly turning around and shouting, "Who's there?! Show yourself!"

In the center of the cavern, a strange black flame ignited out of nowhere.

The black flame twisted into a human shape, finally taking the form of a man with a clear yet sinister face, dressed in a black robe trimmed with silver.

"I am Zarathustra, the devil. Would you mind handing over the Sleeping Princess to me?"

"Rest assured, I will pay a price. That price... is your lives!"

With a courteous tone, Saigou spoke.

With his arrival, it was as if everything in the surroundings had been plunged into an accelerated state of decay!

***

Bonus Chapter:

100 Power Stones = 1 BC

300 Power Stones = 2 BC

500 Power Stones = 3 BC

700 Power Stones = 4 BC

1000 Power Stones = 5 BC

***

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