Dungeon of Pride, Laplace

Chapter 943- The Shadow Lurks (6)

The moment Avrox spoke the last words, the hall turned silent. Arctaurus and Gelford were one thing but even Vargel and the others wore an expression full of shock.

Why would they not after all, there was not a single demon who did not know about the Fate Game.

"A Fate Game?" Arctaurus arched an eyebrow. "You mean to suggest a joint effort between our factions, to crush him together?"

"Exactly," Avrox nodded "The rules of the Fateful Game are more efficient than fighting individually. With the two of you, the Blood Moon faction and the Iron Crown, we could crush the demon earl with ease".

Gelford furrowed his brow, weighing Avrox's suggestion carefully. The Fate Game, an ancient tool too catastrophic and devastating to be invoked lightly. There was a reason why it remained dormant, inactive and rarely enacted even in the brutal world of demon nobles.

"The Fate Game… Avrox, do you understand the weight of what you're proposing?" Vargel asked with a voice full of incredulity.

In response, Avrox's twisted smile remained the same "Of course. I understand it perfectly."

The two Demon Dukes narrowed their eyes. The Fate Game, though devastatingly efficient, was wrapped in a mountain of intricate rules that must be followed before one could initiate it.

Not only must it go through the Council of Archdukes—the highest authority under the Demon Lords, but it also requires a long time of preparation and planning. Depending on the scale of conflict, the whole process could take months, if not years until the battle is settled.

What's more, similar to the dungeon war Once the Fate Game was invoked, it could not be stopped until one side was utterly destroyed. No peace agreements. No compromises.

It was total annihilation, and the ripples from such a war could be felt across the entire demon continent.

As it could adversely affect the very balance of the demon world and all the Demon Nobles in general, it is considered more of a last resort kind of thing.

There was an unwritten rule in demon society: those who dared to invoke the Fate Game risked invoking the ire of neutral factions, or even worse, the Demon Lords themselves.

The game was designed as a last resort—only used when all other options had been exhausted.

The Demon continent might be chaotic but it was not without order. High-ranking demons respected a code of conduct, unspoken yet enforced by sheer necessity. To break this balance by invoking the Fate Game was akin to wielding a double-edged sword.

While it might help crush a rising threat, it could also spell disaster for the invokers.

Gelford tapped his fingers on the armrest of his throne, his crimson eyes deep in thought. "Avrox, you know as well as I do how much of a hassle initiating a Fate Game is. Let's not even talk about the preparation period, just getting the approval from the council would be difficult".

Arctaurus nodded in agreement "And let's not forget if we invoke the Fate Game recklessly, we could be seen as a threat to the other neutral factions. No one wants to be on the opposite end of that culling blade. If the Demon Lords believe this will destabilize the continent, they will crush us before the game even begins"…

"Right, do we really need to go through such lengths just to crush a Demon Earl?"

To use means like the fate game to crush the growing ambitions of a Demon Earl was like using a sword to butcher a chicken. There was no need to go to such extremes do deal with an opponent who was two ranks lower than them.

"Do we need to go to such lengths?" Avrox scoffed, for the first time he broke away from the façade of his smile.

"You're underestimating him again, lord Gelford. The same way you did at Hexennacht. The same way the Ogre King did."

"Was the Ogre King weak?" the demon pressed "No. He was one of the strongest beings in the Ghastly Winding Forest, a true force of nature. Someone who could even threaten the Deonn Dukes and their rule"

"But how did he fare against the Demon Earl? He couldn't even conquer the dungeon, let alone return alive. Not using the Fate Game means you're still looking down on this enemy, treating him like an ordinary upstart. He's anything but"

"This is no longer about a petty Demon Earl trying to claim a sliver of land. The Ogre King's defeat is just the beginning. If you allow him to continue gaining strength, mark my words, Gelford—this whole thing will spiral into something beyond your control."

At that comment, Gelford's face darkened. An ominous silence filled the room Then, without warning, his aura exploded with fury.

The sheer force of it sent shockwaves through the hall, making the ground tremble violently beneath their feet. The air became thick with crushing pressure, suffocating those nearby.

Even Demon Marquess like Vargel found it hard to breathe.

"You dare… to lecture me…?" Gelford thundered.

The might of a Demon Duke unleashed for all to witness. CRACK… debris fell from the ceiling and the hall seemed like it would cave in any moment.

"Father, please calm yourself!" fearing his wrath, his sons and daughter stepped forward to pacify him.

"Father, This isn't the time to lose your temper." For a long moment, it seemed like Gelford might strike down Avrox where he stood. His killing intent was that palpable. But then, with a deep breath the demon duke composed himself and retracted his outstretched hand.

 Seeing this, Vargel and the other sighed. The trembling of the hall ceased, and the pressure in the air began to lift, though the tension remained thick.

Avrox stood there, unfazed by the terrifying display of power, his grin never faltering. His confidence was infuriating, but Gelford knew he couldn't give in to his impulse.

Despite the other party's arrogance, despite their disrespect, Avrox wasn't someone he could afford to kill.