As expected, the currency crisis that shook the Dark Shadow Empire and the Bloody Empire intensified after the great military parade ceremony of the Fallen Angel Empire. Meanwhile, the situation in the Fallen Angel Empire became increasingly stable.
There was a strong faith across the Fallen Angel Empire, which was what Shea said: We are not afraid of any war!
This domineering declaration was uttered so confidently by the ruler of the Fallen Angel Empire for the first time in nearly 400 years since the fall of the Lord of Midnight Sun- This was not blind arrogance. The force displayed by the Fallen Angel Empire at the military parade was enough to overlook the entire Demon Realm. They didn’t even have to hide the secrets of those powerful armies at all.
In the days following the military parade ceremony, the cohesion and self-confidence of the people of the Fallen Angel Empire were stronger than ever compared to the rest of the 2 empires who seemed to be in a panic, lest they be caught in an unwinnable war.
There was news that the Dark Shadow Empire and the Bloody Empire had secretly formed an alliance to fight against the Fallen Angel Empire. Whether it was true or not, the Fallen Angel Empire was now the Demon Realm’s well-deserved number 1 empire, including military and economic aspects. Who would have imagined that just 2 years ago, the Fallen Angel Empire was the weakest of the 3 empires. They had to rely on the strength of the Dark Shadow Empire to defend against the Bloody Empire’s invasion.
It was not that the Bloody Empire or the Dark Shadow Empire had become weaker, but the Fallen Angel Empire had become stronger, unbelievably strong. In just 2 years, a qualitative change had taken place.
The Dark Shadow Empire and the Bloody Empire helped each other to finally stabilize the currency crisis temporarily, but sages like Catherine had seen a series of terrifying consequences that this crisis might bring. It could even make the entire empire’s economy collapse. This was the first time that this kind of alternative economic war appeared in the Demon Realm.
But for now, most of the public attention had been diverted to the fact that the Demon Realm’s martial battle championship in the Bloody Empire was finally about to begin.
This time, the martial battle championship was set on the ancient battlefield in the Iron Fist Estate. The candidates for the competition were not limited to the Bloody Empire, but all the powerhouses of the Demon Realm. Especially the Bloody Empire’s ruler and top powerhouse, Raizen, would appear in person. The prince consort of the Fallen Angel Empire, duo-specialized grand master Aguile, and Catherine of the Dark Shadow Empire were also invited to participate in the battle.
The Bloody Empire attached great importance to this event. It was said that it took a year to set up the protection enchantment in each competition area. Raizen the Great also did the adjustment and inspection in person.
Like the military parade ceremony, the entire competition would be broadcast to the entire Demon Realm through magic television. This broadcast was strongly supported by the Fallen Angel Empire a long time ago, sending a large number of personnel to participate in the construction of the arena and providing the most advanced broadcast equipment and professionals.
The registration period was 3 days, but the Iron Fist Estate was already full a week earlier.
Although 2 popular ‘sports’, battle ball and magic games, were now popular in the Demon Realm, the status of martial fighting was still irreplaceable for the demons who were warlike in their bones. What’s more, this was an unprecedented martial fighting game, and even the top powerhouse would fight in person.
The registration place, the result notification office and the waiting area for the contestants were all located in the expanded arena of the Iron Fist City. This arena was originally a large arena second only to the Bloody Empire’s capital. After renovation and expansion, the area was doubled and could accommodate nearly 100,000 spectators.
Due to the high level of strength of the contestants this time, the audience couldn’t go to the ancient battlefield to watch, considering safety issues. They could only watch from various perspectives on the special big screen in the arena. In fact, they could also watch it on magic television anywhere, but at the Iron Fist arena, they could see the participating powerhouses, feel the exciting atmosphere of the scene, and watch the battle from different angles, so the audience still came flocking to the Iron Fist Estate.
Chen Rui arrived at the Iron Fist Estate on the last day of registration. As everyone knew, the military parade strategy of the Fallen Angel Empire was quite successful a month ago. In fact, the whole planning started when the 3 empires signed the peace agreement. The condition that seemed to be a big loss, all the new technologies that appeared in the Fallen Angel Empire would be shared with the rest of the 2 empires’, magic television, aromatic millet wine, and so on were just baits thrown. After 2 empires tasted the sweetness of ‘sharing’, they issued the real killing move of ‘bank’.
The most terrifying crisis was hidden behind the seemingly stable profit model. This crisis was no less than a war about life and death. The currency crisis was just the beginning. If it triggered a series of subsequent financial turmoil, then the economy of the 2 empires was likely to collapse or go backward. In such an environment, even if the 2 empires did not go all out to start a war, the Fallen Angel Empire might also be affected by an incalculable butterfly effect. What Chen Rui wanted was a prosperous and stable Demon Realm which could be in the form of an alliance, but it was by no means a ‘unity’ destroyed by economic warfare and war. The real purpose of launching a currency war was the same as the military parade ceremony: To demonstrate, to deter and to create momentum.
At the negotiation table in the future, whoever had the tougher fist would have more ‘say’.
The relatives and friends of Chen Rui were also here, including Empress Shea. Among them, besides Chen Rui, Zola, Dodo, Roman and Olypheus also participated in the competition.
Participating in this martial battle championship, helping Chen Rui to defeat Raizen, and taking away the shame of the Warlock Fortress was a decision made by Zola long ago. Chen Rui did not stop her. With Zola’s strength, the result was still unknown if she fought with Raizen. There should be no danger. Zola had her own way, and he didn’t want to hold her back.
Roman was actually the first person to come into contact with the ‘Infinite Warrior’, and Chen Rui also specially granted him unlimited time permission. After this kind of virtual battle tempering, combined with real hard training, plus star conferring and training with the special effect of ground projection, Roman’s current strength had reached the peak stage of the Demon Overlord. Not only that, Master Roman was really proud of himself now. After unremitting efforts, Delia had acquiesced in the existence of Medilu, which could be said to have both sides. This competition was a rare opportunity to hone himself, and Roman also wanted to find a way to a higher realm by fighting against the rest of the Demon Realm’s powerhouses.
Ms. Black Dragon’s old illness had now died out, but the reason for her participation in the competition was not to break through, but to aim at the prize money set by the competition. Those who enter the first round of preliminaries through qualification screening would receive a reward of 50 black crystal coins each; those who enter the quarter finals will receive a reward of 1000 black crystal coins; those who enter the final stage…
The reason for Master Dodo’s participation in the competition was even simpler. Due to the long contact with dragons, Master Slime had already gotten the bad habit of hoarding money. When he overheard Ms. Black Dragon enthusiastically calculating the accumulated prize for entering the final stage with Isabella, he made the decision to participate immediately.
On the other hand, Master Poison Dragon disappeared since Auglas brought the mustached loli to the Dark Moon last time. In fact, he was ordered by Auglas to go to the Dragon Island for training. He once said that he would come to participate in the competition and beat Raizen’s to wash away his shame, but for some reason, he had not appeared yet. It made Ms. Betty worried for a while.
Today was the last day, and there was still an endless stream of people registering for the competition. Even with the opening of the registration office, there were still several long queues. The onlookers were even more.
Registration was very simple: Pay the registration fee of 1 black crystal coin, register some basic information, and then receive a number plate. At that time, lots would be drawn randomly to divide into groups for screening.
Chen Rui was still dressed in a mask and cloak. Because of ‘Aguile’, this kind of style had been very popular in the Demon Realm, so no one recognized the man in the cloak with an ‘onion’ standing on his shoulders as the famous great grand master of the Demon Realm and the Fallen Angel Empire’s Royal Highness Prince Consort. However, Zola’s beauty had attracted the attention of many people. Similarly, the pretty long-legged Ms. Black Dragon had also attracted a lot of attention.
When Chen Rui and Zola were about to line up to register, there was a commotion in the crowd on the right. They all moved out of the way.
A few people walked out of the crowd. The leading black-haired woman was wearing a black robe, a cloak, and a veil on her face. Although her face and figure could not be seen, her grace. and outstanding temperament could be clearly felt.
“Isn’t that the Dark Shadow Empire palace’s top magician, Fanta?”
“By the way, that is Versten, the new third general of the Dark Shadow Empire. He is said to be the most powerful in the army…”
“These people are following behind that woman… That woman…”
“What do you mean by that woman? That must be Catherine, the empress of the Dark Shadow Empire!”
“The Demon Realm’s top beauty, Catherine the Great is here!”
“…”
When Catherine noticed Chen Rui and the others, she stopped walking. Her star-like eyes glowed from behind the veil, just in time to meet Chen Rui’s gaze.
Both of them hid their true face, but under that kind of gaze, all masks or cover-ups were superfluous. In fact, the 2 already knew each other quite well both emotionally and physically, but unfortunately, they were still standing on opposite sides.
“I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time.” Chen Rui spoke first.
Only Catherine understood the real meaning of this sentence.
One day, I will come to the Dark Shadow Empire with the strength that makes the whole Demon Realm tremble. Even if you are the inheritor of the empress, even if you have ascended the throne, I will take you away!
Back then, when he said these words at the Silent Night Wetland, they were just a ridiculous delusion at that time. I didn’t expect that just a few years…
From the Silent Night Wetland to the 5th Nirvana, the past scenes reappeared quickly in her mind. Catherine felt a touch of tenderness in her palms, but her gaze seemed more firm.
“Raizen and I both underestimated you.”
The sentence also had a double meaning. It was not only personal strength that they underestimated but also more things. This sentence also shifted the level of discussion from personal feelings to ‘official affairs’, indicating her attitude.
These 2 people were very thoughtful people, and they had gone around countless turns in just 2 sentences. Naturally, outsiders could not understand them. However, those onlookers had already guessed the identity of the man in the cloak – The only person who can make Catherine the Great comment like this is the Fallen Angel Empire’s prince consort, Great Grand Master Aguile!
When Chen Rui was about to speak, a strange feeling arose in his heart. At the same time, a faint burning heat spread from his left arm.
In the grandstand in the distance, a little girl hugged by a woman suddenly shouted, “Daddy! Daddy!”
TL: 🥺they finally meet again. Hopefully, he won’t lose her again this time…
