The oppressive Sea of Mist surged, like a vast ocean covering the underground world. In the glass dome, a hunched figure sat cross-legged, overlooking the monotonous scenery, eternally standing like a sculpture.

"I'm sorry, I failed."

The Third Seat kneeled on one knee behind the Shadow King, his head bowed, his words full of apology.

After paying such a heavy price, they still lost the battle for the Immortal Heart, utterly defeated.

"This is not your fault, it's just that our power is insufficient."

The Shadow King's voice was calm; even though the Third Seat's failure would lead him step by step toward death, he was unconcerned, as if death was not unfamiliar to the Shadow King, but rather an old friend.

The Third Seat was somewhat agitated, "But what will you do?"

In the Third Seat's heart, the Shadow King was an absolute faith, he would never allow his faith to fall powerlessly like this.

"There will always be a way," the Shadow King carelessly said, "but unless necessary, I don't want to do it."

Yet despite saying this, the Shadow King had already reached the point where he had to make a decision, which filled him with a sense of grief and shame.

"You have to... no, you can't do this."

The Third Seat seemed to guess what the Shadow King intended to do, and just as he was about to persuade him otherwise, he was sternly interrupted by the Shadow King.

"It's alright!" The Shadow King shook his head, "Just let him win a bit more..."

The Shadow King took a deep breath, slowly clenched his fist, muttering, "I will win it back, I definitely will."

After saying these words, the Shadow King even amused himself, his out-of-character words resembling those of a hysterical gambler pleading for another round.

Gambler...

Thinking carefully, he seemed no different from a gambler, both just insignificant individuals in this grand gamble.

The Third Seat said no more, with a slightly sorrowful gaze, watching the Shadow King's back, that hunched figure bearing a weight far heavier than he imagined.

Carrying the vast Empire.

The Shadow King asked, "Besides that, are you certain? The Order Bureau successfully usurped the Power of Dominator?"

"Yes, we have completed the investigation. The individual is Bologue Lazarus, a Debtor with an Undying Body. His past is mysterious, and he only recently joined the Order Bureau, becoming a member of the Special Operations Group."

The Third Seat recounted the information gleaned from the investigation, "Although he is currently only a First Stage Condenser, when he activates Secret Energy, the effect of his Secret Energy is almost identical... it's practically a perfect replica of the Power of Dominator!"

In the eyes of the Third Seat, fervent emotions surged uncontrollably, causing his voice to tremble.

"That power commanding all things, the power of the 'Royal Domain.'

The Shadow King remained unmoved by the Third Seat's fervent words, only lowering his head, a faint glimmer emanating from his dark eyes, pondering something.

"Withdraw," the Shadow King said, "I will handle the matters that follow."

The Third Seat's eyes betrayed reluctance, but he knew he could not change the Shadow King's mind. More importantly, they had no other means.

Finally, the Third Seat sighed sorrowfully and left quietly, leaving the spacious and dim chamber once again with only the Shadow King.

The Shadow King reminisced about that forbidden power, pondering the name Bologue Lazarus in his mind.

An unseen force surrounded the Shadow King, like shoals of intangible fish, swimming continuously, causing ripples.

The Shadow King slowly lifted his head, gazing into the muddled darkness nearby. It was so black, as if it could devour all light, and the brief gaze instilled twisted sensations in the Shadow King's mind, as if unseen claws tore through reality, tugging at his spirit.

"I knew you were here, always watching me from the corner, never stopping."

Facing the sinister presence in the darkness, the Shadow King calmly remarked.

Derisive laughter came from the darkness, a nebulous figure emerged from the shadows, surrounded by equally dark shoals of fish, impervious to light, making him appear like a sudden black silhouette, tearing apart light and space.

The newcomer leisurely approached the Shadow King, the shadows squirming, lifting both him and the Shadow King, black tables and chairs extending from the darkness, and the two sat at either end of the table as delicate black and white chess pieces emerged from the tabletop.

The newcomer picked up a black piece, "Care for a game?"

The Shadow King gazed at the shadow for a long time, as with many previous meetings, no matter how he observed, all he perceived was a void of darkness.

He gave up trying to observe and silently picked up a white piece, advancing it forward.

The Shadow King questioned, "Bologue Lazarus... he is your new target, isn't he?"

"I think you might have confused the order," the newcomer moved a piece, sending the defending pawn forward, "compared to him, you're the new target."

"..."

The Shadow King's hand holding the piece stiffened for a moment, perceiving the underlying meaning in the newcomer's words, "So that's how it is? From the very beginning, he was your Chosen One, and I was merely a subsequent replacement."

The newcomer said, "I thought you had already realized you were a substitute."

"I had considered it, but I hadn't realized his existence predated mine by so much."

With just a few words, the Shadow King roughly guessed the various mysteries, simultaneously understanding one thing, this was deliberately revealed by the newcomer.

The newcomer always did this, releasing necessary information at crucial moments to guide him toward the future he desired. The most unsettling aspect was that the Shadow King never had the power to refuse.

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