Pirate Kingship-Chapter 590 - 425 The First Challenge: The Trial of the Lake Monster Gibaro_2

Each party snorted coldly as they led their own teams, following the mummy to an island on the outer perimeter of the Holy Lake where a magnificent Sun Temple had been built.

All parties had gradually arrived before the sun had fully risen.

Byron and Violet also got their first real look at the other competitors for the throne and their guards.

Being too far away for the [Nautical Logbook] to reach, Atahualpa, having previously bribed an Attendant to gather a lot of information, introduced them.

The one at the forefront was the eldest Prince [Light of Earthquake], Ninan Coyuchi Capac, born of the former King and the Earthquake Dragon.

His actual physique was exceptionally robust; even in human form, he was nearly as tall as a one-story building, with two other guards of significant presence standing beside him.

One guard, only slightly shorter than him, was his son, [Son of the Sun] Lloque Capac, who also possessed the bloodline of the Earthquake Dragon.

This eldest Prince [Light of Earthquake]'s age was, to a certain extent, an advantage; at least his son had already reached his prime, older and stronger than many princes of his generation.

The other appeared to be a typical native, seemingly an ordinary [Son of the Sun]. However, his aura was subtly different, and his complexion excessively pale.

"His Majesty, the Lord of the Celestial Kingdom, it's indeed odd. My eldest brother clearly has the blood of the Totem Gods, but he usually avoids contact with them the most.

"He takes pride in being the legitimate heir of the Empire.

"While my second brother, of pure blood, likes mingling with those Totemic God Tribes the most, never avoiding suspicions.

"It's truly the two extremes."

Atahualpa was still inexperienced; Byron, on the other hand, was well accustomed to such circumstances. The more one is related to foreigners, the more one takes extreme measures to avoid any suspicion, even to the point of opposing them fervently—this is the zeal of the convert. It's mainly an inferiority complex at play, trying desperately to please others, so it's no wonder he has a volatile temper; any mockery of his origins could easily set him off. On the other hand, the more unquestionable one's status, the less they need to worry about these details.

Byron looked toward the second Prince [Playboy], [Frivolous One] Vascar Kapak's team.

Standing beside him were unmistakably two female Totem Gods. As the legends said, he trusted outsiders so much that he did not even recruit a relative of the Descendants of the Sun God.

One female, who had transparent fly-like wings, six slender arms, and a pair of compound eyes, was the [Totem God: Plague Bringer]. She was also the mother of that fly lady from the scandalous stories.

Seeing their overly intimate demeanor, aside from being speechless, it was even more difficult to describe.

The other was a beautiful girl with a flower growing out of her left eye, a Fourth Order Totem God [Flower Fairy].

Byron had expected to see the powerful Charm Demon Theresis Achebeir, but she was nowhere to be seen. Glancing around from afar, without the [Nautical Logbook], it was impossible to make out where she was hiding. But Byron knew that to ensure the Promotion Ceremony for the Usurpation went smoothly, she too must have come here. It was just unknown what mythical form the Succubus took, and which identity she was masquerading as; those of the Fourth and Third Order present were all possibilities. Moreover, even if he could find the Succubus's whereabouts, he wouldn't be able to touch her before the ceremony began.

Out of the third Prince [Hero's Blood]'s group, two guards also emerged and stood by his side.

The two guards wore black hooded robes that were clearly Miracles, concealing their faces and even their silhouettes, let alone their proficient transcendent abilities.

Atahualpa glanced at them and curled his lip. "My third brother really learned from those white barbarians how to skulk and sneak.

"His territory borders the sea, and there must be no shortage of outsiders visiting, so I bet at least one of them is a white barbarian."

Besides these brothers watching and confronting each other, the rest, mostly of the Third Order, kept their distance, obviously not wanting to clash with these four right away.

The old King's sons and daughters numbered over two hundred, most of whom were delegated to various administrative positions or to frontier tribes.

In terms of manpower, financial power, or personal strength, they couldn't hold a candle to these four Governors.

But among this group, whether any intended to let these four fight among themselves for their own gain, nobody knew.

Soon, as the sun fully rose, a group of upper-class nobles from the Noble Assembly carried the old King's mummy to the front gate of the Sun Temple.

There, the High Priest commenced the "Holy Lake Coronation Ceremony."

"Bring the offerings!" 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

A peculiar alpaca with golden fleece that glittered under the sunlight was led forward by a priest.

After a quiet introduction by Atahualpa, Byron learned that this was a beastified descendant of the Fifth-Order Demigod, the Alpaca God Urcuchillay, carrying the bloodlines of both the Descendants of the Sun God and alpacas.

If one were to be technical about it, this alpaca might even be their distant cousin. Compared to the Earthquake Dragon and the alpaca, this was clearly a fine tradition of the Sun Empire's Kapak Royal Family. Anyway, since Totem Gods can shatter reproductive barriers from the Third Order, such a hodgepodge of creatures was innumerable in the Hundred Beasts Paradise. The sailors on the ocean-going ships of the Old Continent, while they might also love sheep, were in a completely different league. One could only say: impressive. It was as if the ancient Greek Divine King who presided over breaking reproductive barriers was reincarnated.

"BAA, BAA, BAA..."

The High Priest drew out an enchanted Gold ritual knife, pinning the robust golden alpaca to the ground with one hand while murmuring words under his breath.

To others, it may have been incomprehensible ancient Quechua, yet it seemed to immediately connect with some great existence lurking in the unknown, drawing Its attention.

The ritual knife in his other hand deftly sliced open the alpaca's belly, and its blood-soaked innards, wrapped in fascia of various colors, spilled out instantly.

BAA—!

Oddly, despite what should have been excruciating pain, the alpaca didn't move an inch after the High Priest released it.

It merely stretched its neck energetically, its eyes, once bright and pure, now seemed to be veiled in shadow, reflecting a brilliantly radiant Spiritual World.

The High Priest focused intently on the pouring innards, even holding a portion in his hands, his eyes shimmering with the same strange light as the alpaca's.

This was the practice of "Entrail Divination." It not only predicted omens but also, by utilizing the moment the golden alpaca hovered between life and death, allowed communication with the Gods looming high above the heavens.

The Quechua incantations sung by the High Priest grew louder. The 52 Secret Realm islands in the lake suddenly blazed with Divine Light, each shooting a column of rainbow light towards the sky.

They wove together in midair scenes of arduous trials that the Founders once traversed.

Manco Capac led eight Divine Sons on a twenty-year journey through the Ring of Fire Mountain Range, facing innumerable perils along the way.

This segment of the founding History signified where this nation originated. In the collective subconscious of the Sun Empire's twenty million people, it was also one of the most critical collective memories.

The World Rift in the lake, carrying the Source Tide, integrated that piece of History into the 52 islands, each representing a crisis they once confronted.

There were 52 Secret Realm islands, but that didn't mean there were only 52 kinds of dangers; to assemble ninety-nine trials would pose no issue at all. It was just that these 52 islands were the most emblematic.

Of course, no one would expect the princes to complete the entire route traveled by their founding ancestors. Could they seriously hope these descendants, raised in such luxury, could replicate the feats of their forefathers?

As long as the offering was presented, only three to five islands would be randomly activated here, forming a concise version of the "Trial of Ascension," with the final destination being the [Sun Crown] that symbolized royal Authority.

Whoever could place it upon their head would be the ultimate victor.

"Your Highnesses, as you pass each checkpoint, you must find a Sun Badge. Only with the badge can you enter the next stage, until you finally reach the [Sun Crown].

"No method is off-limits in between.

"Now, let the trial begin!"

With that command from the High Priest, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM...

A stone door rose from the ground; the misty gateway beyond clearly led to the starting point of the "Trial of Ascension."

Led by the Eldest Prince [Light of Earthquake], hundreds of princes, along with twice as many of their guards, conscientiously walked through the gate.

The moment Atahualpa, Byron, and Violet entered the stone gate, a voice suddenly rang in their ears:

"First Stage: The Trial of the Lake Sprite Givaro."

WHOOSH—!

A chill wind blew over the back of the necks of all the trial-takers, causing even the Fourth Order [Sons of the Sun] to involuntarily bristle with goosebumps.

It was as if they could hear the clang of Gold Coins and the laughter of women coming from the depths of the lake behind the mist.