"Get out of here; we will deal with him!" High Duke Oris told Ryder as he glanced back. High Duke Magna was still keeping an eye on the Vampire King. He was alert to prevent the Vampire King if he tried attacking.
"It's all because of the blood. I'll just undo that then," Ryder let out as he shook his head while refusing to leave.
He knew that the battle would only escalate if he left, which would only make the relationship between both our realms even more troublesome. If he left, then the things would deescalate very fast. Whatever happened from that point onwards will only result in the Neutral Undead Region hating the Demon Realm even more. That would mean that the Death Domain would get another ally, increasing their strength. It would simply make them stronger.
"I can only go back for a short time and only once a day. Hopefully, I would be able to change the outcome," Ryder muttered as he glanced at the Vampire King.
"Is there really nothing that we can do to stop the fighting?" He asked the Vampire King just to be sure.
"You Shameless bastard!" The vampire King thundered as he moved so fast that it seemed like he disappeared. High Duke Magna also moved simultaneously.
"Goodbye," Ryder muttered as he instantly used his Ruler of Time and went back in time. He was only able to use it once a day, and he decided to use it now.
****
Ryder found himself back in time. The battle between the son of High Duke Magna, Nomag, and the son of High Duke Eston, Nosam, was taking place. Both of them were inside the barrier, and the fight has just begun.
Ryder looked at his hand, and the glass of wine was still there.
He breathed a sigh of relief, but he knew that the trouble was still not over. The Vampire King was probably on his way.
The battle was soon ever, and the outcome was the same as last time. Nomag has won the battle once more. High Duke Magna picked up the box and deactivated the barriers.
Nomag and Nosam stepped out.
Nomag walked back to his father. Nosam also followed behind
"You fumbled. After falling on the ground, you forgot what to do next. You still need to work on your critical thinking," High Duke Eston told his son, shaking his head.
"That was a good battle. Good work," Ryder complimented them.
"Let's start the final battle then. Finish it fast," High Duke Magna told everyone.
He called out his son while High Duke Oris called out his daughter.
"Wait a minute!"
Both of them started walking towards the ring, but Ryder stopped them.
Both of them stopped as they turned back to look at him. Everyone else in the room also looked at him.
"I want to tell you both something. No one is allowed to use skills that they haven't mastered completely. It might be dangerous if you use unfinished skills. Anyone found using a skill that they haven't successfully learned will be punished. Even if you win, you will get no rewards," Ryder declared. Even though he said it as if he was talking to the both of them, he was basically telling this to Nomag.
He was going to do everything he could to change the future, which began with Nomag using a skill that he hadn't mastered when he was in a desperate situation.
High Duke Magna and High Duke Oris looked at Ryder in confusion, not understanding why he was talking about that now, but High Duke Oris went with the flow.
"His Highness is right. This is a battle to test your strength and your skills, and if you start using skills that you haven't learned, then it fails the motive. Also, it can be dangerous for everyone," High Duke Oris said.
"We understand," Nomag and Felina replied as they nodded their heads.
"Good. You can go ahead then," Ryder nodded his head.
Nosam and Felina entered the ring, and High Duke Magna activated the barrier.
"Miku, can you keep this glass back? I'm done drinking," Ryder let out as he gave the wine glass to Miku. He didn't want to hold it in his hand in case the same thing happened once again.
If they fought and even if Nomag used that skill, as long as Magna saved him like last time, there would be no injury, and his blood wouldn't leak.
"You can start the battle," Ryder told the contestants.
The battle began, and it was just as intense as it was the last time. Nomag and Felina give it their best. While everyone else was watching it with great interest, for Ryder, it was basically a repeat telecast. Still, he kept his focus on the battle.
The battle was between the Sword of Darkness and the sword of flames. Everything was happening the same way.
The Battle of Sword continued, and both sides seemed to be on almost equal footing. Nomag seemed slightly stronger. Even though very little, Felina was being pushed back.
Felina tapped the ground with her right foot twice in quick succession as she muttered, "Bindings,"
'Here it comes. That moment is best,' Ryder thought as he watched Felina use the bindings again.
Tens of vines came out from the ground and wrapped Nomag's hands and legs. They stopped him from moving. No matter how much he tried, he wasn't able to live even an inch. His hands were tied, and his legs were trapped in their position.
"How could she know Bindings?" High Duke Eston exclaimed in shock just like last time.
Ryder couldn't help but shake his head.
He looked towards Mila, knowing that she would say something now.
High Duke Mila also looked at the Battle with a stunned expression as well.
"I guess this battle's conclusion is already clear. Felina will win," She muttered. "We will have a new winner this time."
High Duke Oris was smiling while High Duke Magna had a frown on his face.
Nomag's face was facing them while Felina's back was facing them.
High Duke Magna noticed Nomag's eyes changing colors.
"He just doesn't understand. At Least I don't have a glass now," Ryder let out as he shook his head. As long as everything else happens the same way, I'll be fine, and Vampire King won't see my blood.
"No, Nomag! Don't use that! You haven't mastered that yet!" High Duke Magna suddenly called out, but it didn't seem like Nomag was able to hear. It was also possible that he ignored the words since he believed that he could do it successfully.
"Revastan!" Nomag let out softly.
"Felina, get down on the ground!" High Duke Oris called out to warn Felina.
Ryder could have warned her before, but he wanted everything to happen like before so that his plans could progress the way he wanted.
Felina heard the words of High Duke Oris and immediately dropped to the ground. What happened next also followed the same pattern as the last time.
Thousands of needles came out of Nomag's body and hit the barrier. The barrier was broken, and the needles advanced towards Ryder. High Duke Magna jumped again to save Ryder.
Ryder fell down on the ground once more as a Needle passed from his close proximity.
Fortunately, he wasn't harmed. There was no bleeding either since he wasn't holding the glass.
They helped Ryder stand up and asked if he was fine.
Ryder smiled as he replied that he was perfectly fine. High Duke Magna was about to scold his son to make Ryder feel that he didn't need to punish Nomag anymore, but before he could say anything, Ryder spoke.
"Looks like we have a guest here," Ryder let out as he glanced at the door.
He had said what High Duke Oris had said in the last timeline, before he could say that in this timeline, just to make him seem more knowledgeable.
After a few seconds, they all saw the Vampire King entering the great hall.
"Vampire King, I don't remember sending you an invitation to my birthday. It's fine, though. We welcome all guests. Since you're here, how about, you have a drink?" High Duke Oris joked as he saw Vampire King coming in uninvited.
"I don't think you brought your army here. So this doesn't seem like an invasion. What brought you here?" High Duke Magna let out with a frown. He was more straight on point this time as well.
Ryder was more comfortable this time since he knew that the Vampire King wouldn't know about him being there in the Undead Region. He could only doubt, but he wouldn't be able to confirm. As long as there was doubt, Ryder knew that he had an opportunity to handle things peacefully. As long as there was no fight, everything was fine.
While the High Dukes were talking to the Vampire King, they noticed that his focus was not on them.
