Pirate Kingship-Chapter 607 - 435: Summit Giant, Unexpected Incident

When the sun rose again the next day, the trial teams, each having received a Sun Badge, successfully arrived at the fourth trial.

Apart from a dozen or so groups of Third Order Molten Giants that had arrived at the third trial during the latter half of the night, there were no other changes among the trial participants.

With the teams led by the Eldest Prince [Light of Earthquake] and the Third Prince [Blood of Heroes] having withdrawn, the remaining Third Order participants aligned themselves with either the Second Prince [Playboy] or the Fourth Prince [Hand of Wealth].

Seven individuals followed the Second Prince, their eyes still tinged with pink, clearly remaining under the succubus's control.

After reaching an agreement, Byron released the Poison Plague Envoy and the Obsidian Dagger that had been swallowed by the Secret Arcane Art [Bloodline River].

Having gained a significant advantage, Byron acted as if he truly represented Fourth Prince Atahualpa in renouncing the throne, ready to hand over the Sun Crown.

He even took the initiative to promise to block other competitors for them.

It was the very image of a model younger brother.

Succubus Teris also believed that the one who had taken two-thirds of the Panacea was Byron, this [Prince of Night Demons].

With this formidable enemy gone, the rest of the competitors were but chickens and dogs.

Byron proposed two additional conditions, which the succubus did not strongly resist:

"First, Teris must serve him wholeheartedly for ten years. Second, he wished to borrow the [Blood Cup]."

Byron prepared a backup plan. If his guess was wrong, Teris and the Second Prince would save face, while he would still gain practical benefits in the long run.

If he had guessed correctly, this would act as a firewall, at least saving Atahualpa's life.

Byron then unfolded his own Bloodline River, concealing his troops from view, and it was unclear what he had done with that [Blood Cup].

In any case, when they reappeared the next morning, their group composition had undergone no changes.

Only the Atahualpa they were newly surrounding in their midst seemed slightly odd.

His aura was entirely identical to before, truly of Fourth Order Divine Blood. However, his eyes were somewhat vacant, as if he hadn't slept well the previous night.

Byron glanced at August Habsburg, who stood by his side. The latter immediately understood; an azure flame flashed in his eyes as he bowed deeply and said, "Master, I will take good care of 'His Highness the Fourth Prince,' and ensure that no problems arise."

After the Third Prince's death, his two protectors also met their respective fates.

August Habsburg from The Holy Silver Empire officially became a [Wild Hunt Servant], replacing the Second Order Barbary Pirate [Fat Dragon].

Due to his immense potential value, Byron granted him the first [First Embrace] slot after his advancement to the Fourth Order.

His severed right hand was repaired, and his body's various latent genetic diseases were completely eradicated.

Furthermore, his fertility and potential for further advancement were no different from a normal person's, making him much stronger than the original version of the [Wild Hunt Servant].

"Very good."

Byron nodded in encouragement, hoping that, starting with him, his own "Demonic Banquet Council" would also become a significant... Er Wu Zai alliance on the continent.

Just then, as the mists of the stone gate's portal dissipated, a vast island appeared before everyone.

A towering ancient tree, whose crown was not visible, rose from the center of the island, piercing the sky.

Its leaves, seemingly made of pure gold, reflected a splendid radiance as the sun rose. Its diameter was so vast that anyone standing at its foot would mistake the tree for a mountain peak.

At the same time, cheers erupted from the group of independent Molten Giants:

"This is the Empire's Sacred Tree, the 'Cloud Top Giant'! Finally, one of the trial challenges is in a Secret Realm we are familiar with."

"This is the final trial. It's said that the last challenge of every coronation ceremony is to climb the tree, and the [Sun Crown] is on it."

This time, the usually talkative "Atahualpa" did not offer an explanation to Byron. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

However, the information they had gathered in advance already included this tree, known to all in the Empire.

The founding ruler, Manco Capac, and his sister-wife, Mama Ocllo Huaco, traveled across the Ring of Fire Mountain Range for twenty years. Their final stop was the Holy Lake, Lake Titicaca.

There, the [Sun God] Inti's gifted golden staff took root in the soil on its own, eventually growing into a golden tree.

This tallest tree in the Hundred Beasts Paradise, the Cloud Top Giant, standing over one thousand meters tall, was like a wonder of civilization and also possessed its own unique ability—Spatial Distortion.

Over a thousand years, it formed three separate spatial realms—upper, middle, and lower worlds.

The treetop constituted an expansive upper world, connecting to the Machu Picchu Sky City, where The Pantheon resided.

The middle level was a gateway between the Mortal Realm and the Heavens, and also the highest point mortals could reach.

Even from the most inconspicuous lower level, without The Pantheon's permission, one could climb for a thousand years and still not reach the middle level.

Then, the High Priest's voice once again echoed:

"Flying is forbidden beneath the Sacred Tree. Everyone must climb the Cloud Top Giant with their bare hands and may use any means to obstruct other competitors.

Until reaching the gateway to the Heavens at the middle level, which is also the sacred place nearest to the gods.

Our revered Former King, Huayna Capac's mummy, will be holding the new king's [Sun Crown]. He will transfer the supreme power belonging to the king to the first victor to ascend."

Above the Secret Realm's sky, the silhouettes of the Sun Temple and the Noble Assembly appeared once again; indeed, the Old King's mummy was missing.

The princes knew that regardless of what happened in the previous trials, the Noble Assembly only counted the survivors and would not concern themselves with the specifics of the competition.

The losers had no future and were not worth their further attention.

They would only observe the final trial.

The group of princes didn't find anything strange. This was a traditional succession ritual fixed for centuries, and they instinctively moved a step closer to the great tree.

Only Byron, after hearing these words, saw the Decryption Rate of 'Hidden: The Shadows over the Sun Empire's Succession, Historical Influence 30' suddenly jump from 70% to 72%.

A chill shot through his heart: "So, aside from us in the Secret Realm, there's only the Former King's mummy? My guess is becoming reality; the [Sun Crown] in its hands might indeed be too hot to handle. Luckily…"

He glanced sideways at his coat pocket, where an opulent-looking, golden-furred mouse poked its head out, made human-like eye contact with Byron, squeaked once, then withdrew back into the pocket.

"Begin!"

With the command from the High Priest outside the Secret Realm.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!...

Having reached this point, no one would give up even the most ethereal possibility; everyone shot upwards like cannonballs.

Climbing the 'Cloud Top Giant,' its bark mottled like a Demon Monster's scales, they rushed upward at high speed.

Leading the charge was Succubus Teris, who stopped pretending at this critical sprinting moment.

Disgusted with the Second Prince's slow pace, she used a Shapeshifting Spell and transformed into a huge spider. Her upper body remained that of a perfect, naked woman, while her lower body was that of a large-bellied spider.

Holding the Second Prince by the collar, she raced up the nearly vertical trunk as if gravity didn't apply to her.

The Poison Plague Envoy and Flower Fairy guards flanked them.

Right behind them was the Fourth Prince's team.

Byron also used a Shapeshifting Spell, transforming into 'Dr. Octopus' with eight scarlet tentacles sprouting from his back. He then activated the [Storm Aura], pulling Violet and the others—whose gravity was nullified—along at an equally fast pace.

Before his ascension, Byron had 2.3 Blue. Upon becoming a Mythical Creature, his starting combat power was 3 Blue, equivalent to the combined strength of a Fourth Order Mythical Creature, a Third Order Storm Admiral, and a Sword Saint who had awakened their Self God.

Moreover, with 'Whistling Deity's Descent' and powerful Secret Arcane Arts that only a few Mythical Creatures could master, he felt he could handle four or five Blue Hair opponents unscathed.

The [Ladder of Glory] sequence's rule, where three Low Order individuals would fight one High Order individual, was completely broken in his case.

Undoubtedly, he was second only to Teris in power.

No one would doubt him if he called himself a Demon Monster.

He climbed at a steady pace, always trailing behind Teris, yet not allowing any other Molten Giants to overtake him.

He wanted the Second Prince and Teris to test the waters for him, but he never intended to make a mistake and let others reap the fruits of his labor.

"Violet."

Upon hearing this, Violet immediately activated her Weapon Girl mode, transforming into a massive punt-gun that Byron grasped in his hand.

With a No. 0.5 caliber (53.5mm), weighing over 100 pounds (45kg), and over 3 meters long, it could fire over a pound of buckshot at once.

This weapon's size had long surpassed what humans could handle. It was typically mounted on small hunting skiffs, capable of downing fifty waterfowl with a single shot.

BANG! BANG! BANG!...

Covering several kilometers with [Divine Sight], Byron used his [Gun Dueling Technique] to shoot the Molten Giants without missing a single one, causing them to howl in pain.

Though the shots weren't enchanted and couldn't kill these Elemental Creatures, they significantly slowed them down.

The others cursed, but the Second Prince, leading the pack, was overjoyed:

"Good job, Old Fourth! You truly are my own brother. Once I ascend the throne, I will appoint you as the Empire's General—the Grand Marshal of the Border!"

The Second Prince and the Fourth Prince 'joined forces' to sweep away their competitors. No further disturbances arose.

Even when giant ants, aphids, and ladybugs launched attacks from the tree, they all met their demise under Byron's Big Spear.

They climbed since morning, and by noon, Teris led the Second Prince to be the first to reach the Gateway to the Heavens in the middle world.

At first glance, they saw the Former King's mummy sitting on a luxurious gold chair atop a wooden platform.

He wore his own crown, and in his hands, he held another—evidently one hastily made by Parliament for the new king after the original was lost.

Lest complications arise from delay, the Second Prince exerted all the effort he usually reserved for charming beauties and dashed forward.

He tumbled and knelt before the Former King according to protocol, reaching for the [Sun Crown] in the mummy's hands.

"My precious!"

Even though his greatest love was beautiful women, and he wouldn't care about the kingdom for their sake, he was still deeply captivated by this crown representing supreme power.

However, as he was about to take the crown and place it upon his own head...

He tugged—it didn't move!

He tugged again—still no movement!

The mummy's withered hands clutched the crown meant for the new king, as if it couldn't bear to relinquish the power in its grasp.

At this point, the Second Prince finally sensed something awry.

Slowly lifting his head, he saw his own father's mummy also slowly lowering its head, silently staring at him. Unconcealed... greed shone from its hollow eye sockets.

"Ah—!"

The Playboy shuddered, goosebumps rising all over him, as if he had plunged into an icy cavern.