Trapped in the heavy straitjacket, Pranay no longer had a gaze filled with the tranquil murderous intent from before.
Reuniting with two fellow demons was a rare pleasant surprise across his century of imprisonment, but regrettably, it came at the worst possible time.
The airflow within Pranay's special cell gradually settled back to stillness. The mist of light distorted by the clash of eighth-tier magical energy returned to normal, and the frost-coated walls and temple-like pillars of anti-magic steel fell quiet once more.
"Either the two of you flee—have the new king take you and break through the Protos Empire's blockade as fast as possible to face brand-new challenges on the Southern Continent—or you stay right here in this subterranean prison protected by a ninth-tier barrier. Hiding here is actually a way to survive."
Pranay looked toward Sinora and Antanas, speaking in an even cadence.
"Everything on the Southern Continent is rife with unknowns. In the worst case, we might be reduced to beggars on the streets just to conceal our demon identities."
Without the slightest hint of haste or agitation in his eyes, Pranay finished delivering his counsel to his two kin.
"But..."
Sinora felt her brother was being far too pessimistic, yet she did not know what to say.
They were eighth-tier great demons; no matter how far they fell from grace, they wouldn't end up as beggars on the Southern Continent, would they?
Dying would be better than living like that.
"Pranay, you really are..."
Taking in the situation, Antanas clapped a hand to her forehead and shook her head.
From what she knew of Pranay the Prudent, this fellow would rather rot in prison than take a risk.
As long as he could successfully lay low for a thousand years until he became a ninth-tier great demon before leaving prison, then whatever the situation was on the surface, given Pranay's traits and preferred magic, at least no one could threaten him anymore.
Furthermore, Antanas had no idea what Pranay had actually foreseen to make him so terrified.
She had intended to say something, but after exchanging glances with Sinora for a moment, she decided to wait for the king's arrival. It would be best for the king to communicate with Pranay in person; any presumptuous moves on their part might only make a mistake.
No matter what, they needed to report this crucial intel to the king and let her make the urgent call.
"Sinora, Antanas, you should go. Don't let Herrom Prison discover you," Pranay said in farewell from atop the stone platform.
He didn't know why these two looked so relaxed, acting as though they completely disregarded Herrom Prison's security system, warden, and prison officers, but continuing to waste precious seconds of escape time here was definitely an unwise choice.
As for why the new king had yet to appear despite them chatting here for so long, Pranay had roughly guessed that the new king was currently undergoing the test of the Inverted Path of Rebirth on this very sixth basement level.
Every Great Demon Trial remaining in the world was exceptionally precious. If one wished to become the king who would usher in a new glory for the demon race, there were virtually no trials one could afford to be picky about; even if it wasn't one's forte, one would have to risk their life to attempt it.
Yet Antanas of Protection and Sinora the Spellbreaker remained unmoved.
They merely stood in place as though following orders, waiting in silence.
Time seemed to freeze; disguised as prison guards, the two great demons made no further move.
Until several minutes passed.
A faint sound suddenly came from outside the cell door, shattering the quiet.
Amidst swirling mist and frosty air, a figure walked slowly inside.
In the dim prison cell, the figure was exceptionally striking. Her black hair gave off a soft luster under the ambient glow, and her emerald-green eyes were like two emeralds gleaming in an abyss—mysterious and profound.
As the figure stepped into the cell, Antanas and Sinora turned involuntarily to look at her.
The two great demons offered a demon salute to the newcomer.
Pranay of Truth also gazed at the mysterious demon who had finally reached his special cell.
From Antanas and Sinora's attitudes, one could tell that this black-haired, green-eyed female figure was indeed the new king they spoke of.
"What's wrong?"
Poet of Great Love asked, puzzled, looking at the three great demons standing silently in the cell.
He had thought the three great demons, not having seen one another in a century, would have a great deal to discuss.
Now, however, it looked as if they were saying their farewells.
"..."
Compared to Antanas and Sinora, whose faces had still borne minor scratches when they barged into the cell earlier, the new king looked completely unharmed, making it impossible to tell how long she had even lingered in the Inverted Path of Rebirth.
Pranay was quite shocked.
He knew better than anyone just how terrifying the Inverted Path of Rebirth was. To him, it dealt almost entirely true damage. Yet looking at the new king's relaxed demeanor, she might very well have already smoothly passed through the baptism of the Inverted Path of Rebirth's trial.
Even in the Demon Realm of old, few great demons could endure the prolonged torment of the Inverted Path of Rebirth and emerge looking so nonchalant.
The new king was clearly a raving radical.
The sort of suicidal lunatic who didn't fear death in the slightest!
"Sinora, did you explain our purpose to Lord Pranay?"
Poet of Great Love walked up not far from Pranay and turned his head toward Sinora to assess the situation.
Sinora nodded in embarrassment.
She had promised the king so confidently before that she would help talk things out with her elder brother, Pranay of Truth, yet here they were at an impasse, requiring the king to handle it personally. It made her look like an utterly useless subordinate.
"It is by my own insistence that I refuse to leave Basement Level 6 of Herrom Prison," Pranay said, fixing his eyes on Poet of Great Love, his gaze uncharacteristically resolute.
He knew the new king was holding his sister accountable. If he still refused to follow after his sister's persuasion, the new king would surely inflict the cruelest punishment upon Sinora.
He dared not imagine what kind of treatment Sinora would suffer at the hands of this terrifying new king.
The new king's wrath would just have to be borne by him.
"Huh?"
Hearing this, the black-haired, green-eyed Poet of Great Love scratched his hair in bewilderment.
Why was it that Pranay of Truth didn't want freedom of his own accord...?
Still, in Lanqi's eyes, Pranay of Truth was surprisingly easy to talk to—far easier to communicate with than Talia, Antanas, and Sinora had been when they first met. At the very least, he was willing to take the initiative to explain the situation.
"Is that so? Thank you for your hard work, Sinora. Leave the rest to me."
Poet of Great Love smiled at Sinora and expressed his gratitude.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Sinora let out a sigh of relief, her eyes filled with gratitude and awe. She had worried she would be punished or disliked for failing in her duty, never expecting the new king to remain as gentle as always.
"..."
Antanas watched from the side, sensing that Sinora's reliance on the new king had deepened yet another notch.
Still, if the new king treated Sinora like this, it meant she would treat her the same way. Pondering having such a new master to serve, Antanas felt quite reassured.
Chapter 444