The defeat of the Silver Skyruler, the emergence of the Black Totem Snake, and the victory for humanity — soldiers and civilians alike celebrated and cheered with all their hearts.
The city that had faced calamity now saw hope, as they finally survived another day in this godforsaken world.
"Dammit! Fuck, fuck, fuck!"
While the city celebrated its survival, somewhere else, someone cursed and banged the desk in frustration.
Councilman Luo Mian, who hadn't participated in the battle despite being a Super Mage, had hidden inside the fortress, prepared with his own retreat plan in case things went awry.
The moment the Skyruler was about to attack, he had begun his escape — but the Black Snake's sudden appearance changed his mind. He wasn't mad at the snake's emergence; rather, he was glad that the city he represented, the one that housed all his foundations and influence, had survived the calamity.
Unfortunately for him, while the city had survived the disaster, the one aimed at him personally might not let him survive.
---
"Corrupt Councilman Luo Mian!"
"Secret Deals Between Councilman and Drug Mafia!"
"The One Behind the Plague: Luo Mian!"
"Drugs, Scandals, Murders — Luo Mian's Story!"
"Predator Becomes Councilman!"
---
Across the entire internet, Luo Mian's name trended alongside the attack on Hangzhou. His shady deals, black money, and buried scandals resurfaced like old ghosts, spreading wildly through every social media platform.
The murders he committed, the girls he raped — everything came to light.
"Take them down! Take them down, motherfucker!" he roared in fury, ordering his subordinates to suppress the news.
"Our calls aren't reaching!" one of his men shouted, panic in his voice. "No one is picking up!"
"Those bastards!" Luo Mian cursed. He was a sinking ship now, and everyone associated with him — good or bad — began to distance themselves at the sight of the breaking news.
"It's over… it's all over."
Everything that surfaced was true. No matter what he did, he couldn't bury it anymore. His seat as Councilman was gone. His political career — finished.
"Fuck no!" Luo Mian cursed again. "I won't go down like this!"
The scandal was too big. Staying in the light would mean certain capture, so he decided to flee the city and hide until he could plan his next move.
"Let's go! We're leaving!" he said coldly, his eyes sharp as he calculated his next steps.
'Whoever did this… I will make you pay!' he swore, his hands clenching as his Super-tier aura leaked, making those around him tremble.
A Super-tier Shadow and Curse element mage — his power was nothing short of formidable and dangerous. He stood near the apex of the mage world. Though he would retreat now, once he found the person behind his downfall, he would become their worst nightmare before returning to reclaim his influence.
"Move!" Luo Mian ordered.
The corrupt officials who followed him, all at the Advanced level, along with his guards, began their escape. Though their combat skills were questionable, their cultivation gave them confidence.
Two guards led the front, followed by officials, while Luo Mian walked at the back, flanked by two more guards. Being mages, their physiques were far stronger than ordinary humans — bodies comparable to warriors — allowing them to move swiftly through the outskirts of the city.
Luo Mian's eyes fixated on the Black Snake disappearing into the mist. The creature that had stolen all the glory.
"Fucking snake," he spat bitterly as he watched the city cheer for it.
'That glory should belong to me!' he thought angrily, teeth grinding. The prestige, the fame — he felt entitled to it.
As he disappeared into the wilderness, he didn't notice the faint shimmer of black scales blending seamlessly into the night, silently following his trail while blue eyes stalked them from distance.
***
"Councilman Luo Mian is reported to be missing!"
"According to Tang Zhong, Head of the Enforcement Union, Councilman Luo fled during the Battle of the West Fortress! The corrupt councilman responsible for countless heinous crimes and the plague that devastated Hangzhou — one of the most prosperous cities — taking hundreds of lives…"
"Citizens of China! Are the—"
Damon switched off the TV as the news continued. He now sat across from Zhu Meng inside the office.
"So, he fled?" Damon asked, taking a sip of tea.
"Yeah, it appears so." Zhu Meng clenched his fists, fury in his eyes as he recalled the destruction Luo Mian had caused. The city was in ruins, hundreds dead — a tragedy.
And the culprit had 'fled' right under their noses. Damon only smiled, setting his cup down.
"So, what do I owe the pleasure of the Councilman's visit?" he asked politely, earning a glare from Zhu Meng.
"You already know… sigh… please give us the corpse of the Silver Skyruler," Zhu Meng said, getting straight to the point.
"See, the city needs funds to rebuild. Many mages died, and we've exhausted our emergency resources. We need the corpse of the Silver Skyruler to pay for reconstruction and restore order."
"Okay… but what does that have to do with me?" Damon asked calmly.
"The Black Snake gave me the body. It's mine now. Why should I trade it with you?"
"Please, for the sake of Hangzhou…"
"Hangzhou isn't my city," Damon interrupted. "Nor do I have any obligation to help you all. The disaster was caused by someone from your ranks. I went out there and risked my life to help you. And now you want me to hand over my spoils?"
"You—I also fought against the Skyruler!" Zhu Meng protested.
"But you didn't kill it. Official rules — the one who kills it keeps it. The Black Totem Snake gave it to me, and I have no intention of giving such a rare resource away."
"Damn it… how about we pay you a fair amount and purchase the body from you?"
"Do I look like someone who lacks money?"
Selling the corpse of a Monarch for cash? Damon wasn't an idiot. The corpse of a Monarch was invaluable — something money couldn't buy. Even the military rarely obtained one; that's how rare they were. And now they wanted him to give it up?
'The claws could make weapons… the wings could make new magic equipment…'
The wings of a Monarch as flight gear — the thought excited him. Such a luxury, such power. Damon was already envisioning ways to process the corpse.
Seeing his unyielding attitude, Zhu Meng had no choice but to give up and leave.
In this battle, Damon had obtained not only the corpse of a Monarch but also the shed scales of the Black Totem Snake — and more importantly, a bond with the great creature itself. That was the most valuable reward of all.
He reunited with Mo Fan after a year, greeting him with a punch to the face before continuing their talk, followed by meeting Ling Ling, the Hunter Princess.
The grey eagle and Wang Xiaojun's contribution were recorded raising his military rank and giving him one of the highest honours for his work and bravery. He was hailed as hero of the city as his life took turn for the best.
He sent the materials to the best craftsmen he knew while keeping the main body of the Monarch for his own projects.
Across the internet, the incident in Hangzhou went viral — a Monarch-class creature protecting humans, a councilman's corruption exposed, a city's salvation. Social media erupted in chaos.
Videos of Damon using a fourth-level intermediate Light Element spell spread everywhere. Some called it extravagant, others praised his courage. Regardless, his popularity skyrocketed overnight, his name entering global trends as countless people grew curious about him.