On my second playthrough, they were full of malice towards me.

Those who emerged victorious in the battle, after obtaining blood, had their skin turn reddish-brown as the blood seeped into their bodies. Then, the power of the turbid calamity surged from their bodies, and their aura rose steadily.

The high priest's blood can purify their impure bloodline and help them break free from the curse. This alone is enough to explain why countless demi-humans would go mad for it; this is the allure of power.

Looking at the chaos below, countless demi-humans were vying to curry favor with him and competing with each other for their "blessing".

As he listened to the demi-people singing and praising him, expressing their "love" for him, the corners of Ba'er's mouth turned up slightly, a smile playing on his lips. He enjoyed this wonderful feeling.

The only thing that might displease him is...

Ba'er's gaze passed over the many reveling sub-people below the stage, and Liao Ji and his group of four, who remained calm, stood out from the crowd without Ba'er having to look for them.

Having lost their contract and become lost over the long years, they were finally given a new life by their "mother," but they also lost the ability to sense Ashes.

However, Ba'er recognized the dragon girl who was "disguised" next to Liao Ji at a glance. And there could only be one person in the world who could make this "supreme" being stand beside him like a guard.

So

Is this what it truly looks like beneath the "ashes"?

really

Looking at Liao Ji, who appeared in the form of a human male, Ba'er let out a self-deprecating laugh. When he saw the four women surrounding Liao Ji, he was even more certain of Liao Ji's identity as the Ash Emperor.

Yes, after all, in that emperor's eyes

Only women can stay by your side and follow you to the very end.

Those memories, which had been forgotten by Ba'er and relegated to a corner, suddenly resurfaced.

"I...I want to play with you too, is that okay?" A wolf-like demi-human child with yellowish skin, short stature, and somewhat disproportionate features looked at the children of the same age playing together not far away and approached to join them.

Unfortunately, he soon received only disdainful comments.

"He's so ugly."

"I don't want him to join!"

"Let's go!"

"No, no, no, we're just short of someone to play the villain, and since no one wants to, I think we should let Ba'er do it. He looks like a villain anyway!"

This suggestion was quickly approved by many young demi-humans. Although Bar didn't quite understand it at the time, he was happy to be able to play with them, even though he was the "big bad guy" who was thrown stones at him and hit with branches and willow twigs by his companions and was supposed to be defeated by everyone.

After each game, the other children would happily go home together, leaving only Barr, who was covered in bruises as the "bad guy," standing there, waving goodbye to his "friends" who didn't even turn their heads, hoping they would play with him again next time. Then he would go to a corner by himself and lick his big and small bruises.

They grew up slowly until one day a monster attacked the village and his "friends" sold him to the monster without hesitation. Only then did Bar realize that he had never truly been a part of their lives.

And Bar will never forget that it was on that occasion that Lord Ash appeared and saved their village. Among the many former "friends" who were so eager to please Lord Ash, the mysterious man under the cloak chose only the ugliest and most unpopular one.

"What is your name?" The cloaked Lord Ash remained silent as always, so the one who actually spoke was a nun beside him who came over to ask after soothing her wounds with warm holy light.

"My name is Ba'er. They all say I'm tall, ugly, like a monster. Why did you choose me?"

Before he could finish his self-conscious and confused words, the nun shook her head and interrupted him: "Monsters wouldn't be willing to sacrifice themselves to protect their companions. If Bar is really a monster, then he must be a handsome one!"

From that moment on, he felt as if he had found a true home. So he worked hard and always rushed to serve Lord Ash on the battlefield, dedicating everything to this person who did not hate or despise him, but instead took him in and nurtured him.

Bar clearly remembered that his efforts soon paid off, and his strength improved by leaps and bounds. Although he was not good-looking, his talent in combat was unparalleled, and he could even rival the other strongest guard by Lord Ash's side at that time. That's right, it was the dragon girl with fiery red hair.

Every time he stood beside Jiu You, he felt inferior. It wasn't a difference in strength, but in appearance. In his eyes, this dragon-human hybrid was so beautiful and captivating, radiating charm with every gesture. Looking at his own coarse and barbaric appearance, Ba'er constantly comforted himself with the words Sciutia had once spoken, believing that Lord Ash would surely see his efforts and would...

Unfortunately, fantasy is just fantasy. When his power was taken away, he fell from grace overnight. The dragon girl, who had regained her share of power, reached the realm he had always dreamed of and became an unshakable and powerful bodyguard by Lord Ash's side. As for him, he was sent back to the so-called rear.

At that moment, a familiar scene seemed to reappear in Ba'er's mind. It turned out that the game from his childhood had never ended. In the end, the friends he thought he had and those who didn't care about beauty or ugliness would still be...

“Bar.” He remembered that the nun seemed to have come over to comfort him.

And what was his answer at the time?

Oh, I remember now.

"So, Styutia, beauty is important, right? Otherwise, why am I the one who lost? Otherwise, why can someone as useless as you stay by Lord Ash's side? You lied to me, everything was a lie, just because you are a woman, a beautiful woman, you, her, and them!"

The painful memories cut like a knife to Ba'er's heart, finally forcing him to take a deep breath and return to reality.

It's all in the past now.

He's different now that he's been "reborn." He's beautiful now, isn't he? There are so many fans in the audience who are obsessed with him, and he touches up his makeup every day.

Although their Old Alliance was formed for the purpose of revenge.

Revenge for being abandoned.

But if Bar is just saying "if," he wants to know how Ash Lord perceives him now. If he were to return to Ash Lord's side in this state, could he regain his former favor?

Ba'er's disdainful gaze swept over the three women beside Liao Ji, finally settling on the Dragon Girl, who had become much more plain after returning to the "low-star illustration." He wanted to know who Lord Ash would choose between him and her this time. He also wanted to see the Dragon Girl taste the feeling of being abandoned and defeated because of her appearance, just like he had back then.

Thinking of this, the high priest stepped down from the platform and walked step by step toward Liao Ji.

When he finally stopped, Bar couldn't help but feel nervous. Although he had longed for revenge and this moment for a long time, he couldn't suppress his trepidation and unease when he stood in front of Lord Ash. He believed that every Forsaken who had truly experienced the "Old Days" would feel the same way. There was no way around it; after all, this was Lord Ash.

"Do you remember me, Lord Ash?"

Finally, having mustered the courage, he uttered the words. Barr awaited Lord Ash's reply, imagining what Lord Ash would say about his appearance. He had given Liao Ji the pocket watch drawing beforehand precisely to ensure Liao Ji would recognize him. Although his appearance had drastically changed, he trusted that Lord Ash, who knew him so intimately, would definitely...

You'll definitely recognize him, right?

Barr harbored hope, but unfortunately, each time he was cut off with a single stroke.

Liao Ji: "."

"you are?"

Chapter 124 Except...that person

Liao Ji's answer was a jet-black spear, rapidly condensed from behind the high priest, aimed directly at his heart.

However, before the high priest could sense the killing intent, a figure had already blocked the young man's path. As for the pitch-black spear containing terrifying evil, it was caught in the air by the dragon girl's single hand. Half of the black spear was held in the dragon girl's hand, and no matter how the black spear trembled, the dragon girl's hand was like an iron clamp, preventing it from advancing any further.

When Jiuyou squeezed harder, crimson flames ignited from her palm, instantly incinerating the black spear.

"I... remember you." Jiu You felt a sense of familiarity as she sensed the power of the black spear, but when she looked closely at the high priest opposite her, she felt unfamiliar and uncertain.

In her mind, the owner of the black spear should be a fellow member of the Royal Guard, a strong and reliable comrade with the heart of a warrior, not someone like this...

The high priest's figure floated into the sky, his handsome face contorted with a twisted and crazed expression, his exquisite makeup appearing ironic at that moment.

"Did you come here looking like this just to humiliate me, Jiu You?!" The high priest stared at the dragon girl below with hatred and malice.

He gave up so much for beauty, even the hatred accumulated over five hundred years, but it was still no match for the moment he saw Lord Ash. His heart, which was touched and weakened, was moved, and he had the idea of ​​betraying the old alliance, provided that Lord Ash could recognize him, praise his beauty, and continue the favor that he had been deprived of back then.

Unfortunately, no.

All his efforts were rewarded with the cold, indifferent question from Lord Ash: "Who are you?"

Even with such an unadorned appearance, the dragon girl in front of him was still able to stay by Lord Ash's side. What made Barr even more jealous was that he couldn't compare to the dragon girl.

Just as no amount of hard work can compare to innate superior bloodline, Jiuyou's natural beauty makes her extremely charming even in a "low-star illustration". After making a slight move, her cold and powerful temperament was no longer concealed, further highlighting the beauty of the dragon girl in front of her. It was a kind of beauty that Ba'er could only dream of.

Destroy them all!

The high priest, floating in mid-air, conjured one black spear after another, filling the sky behind him in just a few breaths.

With another wave of his hand, countless black spears rained down on the Dragon Girl's location like a storm, blocking all of Jiu You's escape routes.

However, Jiu You had no intention of backing down in the first place.

Flames engulfed her entire body. As a former comrade from the "old days," now an enemy, Jiu You showed her the utmost respect. Enveloped in flames, the crimson military dress that once belonged to the "Empress" was once again draped over the dragon maiden's shoulders. Her dragon-scale boots lightly touched the ground, and in the next instant, Jiu You soared into the sky like a cannonball, facing alone the barrage of black spears hurtling towards her.

If the rain of black spears from the high priest had instilled fear in the demi-people affected below, then the figure now standing proudly in the sky had completely stunted the minds of the ancient wolf clan's demi-people.

Female. Empress! ?

The next second, Jiu You grasped at the void, and a Crimson Flame Spirit Blade was drawn from her waist. The Dragon Girl made only a simple movement. She held the blade with one hand, and the imposing dragon horns on her head, exuding a powerful aura, burst forth with crimson light at the same time. Facing the countless black spears in front of her, she thrust the blade vertically downwards into the ground.

hum!

A crimson circle rapidly expanded outwards from Jiuyou in the sky, and all the black spears that touched the edge of the circle were instantly ignited. The sea of ​​flames engulfed all of Ba'er's attack of countless black spears in just a few blinks of an eye.

But that wasn't all. Before anyone could react, right after the sea of ​​fire, Jiu You raised his sword above his head and swung it downwards. At first, it was just a blade of air, but in the blink of an eye, it expanded infinitely and transformed into a scorching blade more than ten meters long.

Sensing the terrifying pressure, Ba'er immediately transformed layer upon layer of turbid evil power into a filthy shield, attempting to block the dragon girl's attack.

However, these shields of turbidity were as fragile as paper under this crimson slash. Several of them failed to slow the blade's movement even for a second and were cut in half. In the end, they inevitably struck the high priest.

Under the blade's edge, the high priest was engulfed in flames. Amidst painful screams and cries, the flames dissipated in the blink of an eye, leaving no trace of the high priest, only the ashes burned to ashes under the blade's edge.

This is the power of a "calamity".

but

Jiu You's expression didn't lighten much; instead, it became even more serious. Although the difference in strength between the two sides was significant, was the High Priest's death perhaps a bit too...

As if confirming Jiu You's guess, a sinister smile with irony soon rang out in the air, and the turbidity in the air continued to condense. The figure of the High Priest who had been killed by the Dragon Girl with a single slash actually transformed back into its original form.

"Hehehehe. As expected of the Empress, this strike, this strike, is something I've dreamed of wielding countless times, but for you it's just a casual blow. Hehehahaha."

Looking at Jiu You, who had returned to her Empress form in mid-air, the High Priest, whose "low-star illustration" was comparable to the Dragon Girl's, felt a burning jealousy in Ba'er's heart after the Dragon Girl returned to her "high-star illustration," both for her powerful strength and her magnificent appearance. He gritted his teeth in anger, but soon...

"So what? You can't kill me! Do you know that within me lies all the hatred, anger, and loathing that the entire Dragon Kingdom has held for you, Empress, for the past few hundred years!"

The high priest laughed wildly in mid-air, and the turbid, brownish-red mist spreading from behind him covered the sky like a giant hand. When Jiu You looked up, she found that one miserable face after another emerged from the red mist.

Among them were enslaved demi-humans, clans that had been wiped out by the Lungmen Army, and humans, including the poor at the bottom of society, the citizens of the Dragon Kingdom who were oppressed by nobles and powerful figures and could not raise their heads under the dark and tyrannical rule.

When Jiu You looked at them, they all stared at the Dragon Queen, the ruler of their Dragon Kingdom, with hateful eyes.

They wailed and roared, each one seemingly questioning Jiu You fiercely: why did you treat them like this? Why did you disregard the Dragon Kingdom? It was all because of her. They wanted to make her suffer too, and they wanted to send everyone else in the Dragon Kingdom to hell as well.

The Dragon Maiden remained expressionless and swung her sword again at the illusory phantoms in the sky. However, after the embers of the flames, they and the High Priest seemed to always rise from the ashes and reappear in front of Jiu You.

Come on, keep swinging!

Ba'er was looking forward to it. He was deliberately trying to provoke Jiu You so that the dragon girl would keep attacking, which would allow the dark power of the Dragon Kingdom that he had collected through the "altar" over the past few hundred years to expand more and more.

Once a certain limit is reached, this turbid filth will burst like an inflating balloon, spreading pollution to every piece of land in the Dragon Kingdom and turning the country into turbid soil!

This is his revenge, which he has been planning for centuries. Now everything is in place, and all that's left is to "detonate" it.

Ba'er thought that having the Empress as a witness and audience would already satisfy his desire for revenge, but he didn't expect that there would also be Lord Ash.

So you see, Lord Ash? This is the bodyguard you chose back then, a foolish and stupid woman. And today, all the evil consequences will ultimately be due to your wrong choice.

Wait!