SSS Class Infinite Regression: Ascension of the Mad Dragon Prince-Chapter 172: The War’s Aftermath [3] — Lord Myrghoul, Sovereign of Infestation

Helena read the list with narrowed eyes. "Very strange titles," she remarked. "Since when was this Order formed?"

Louis read the titles alongside her, narrowing his eyes in silence.

"It's not ancient," Gustaf answered. "From what we've gathered, it was founded only twelve years ago. It has only recently reached this level of power and influence within the Vultarn High Dominion."

"And who founded it?" Helena asked.

Louis sighed. "An Archdemon."

"…?!"

Archdemons ranked at the pinnacle of the demonic hierarchy in Spiritias. They were Demons who had ascended by devouring millions of souls and assimilating a "Sin" into their very existence, forging an Authority.

Only seven Archdemons could exist at any time. Thousands of years ago, all seven had been slain by The Summoner and bound as his subordinates, transformed into Spirits. Though their power largely remained, their Archdemonic Authorities had been lost.

After hundreds of thousands of years, new Archdemons had risen amid the chaos of the Demon Continent.

Among them was the founder of the Order of the Fly—a being who had infiltrated Earth and risen to high nobility within the Vultarn High Dominion. A Lord among Lords. A Demon among Demons. The successor of Beelzebub.

Lord Myrghoul, Sovereign of Infestation, Supreme Master and Founder of the Order of the Fly.

Archdemon of Infestation, Plague, Famine, Death, and Suffering.

A ruthless warlord commanding an army of Insectoid Demons. He had granted every Malevolent Fly a powerful Demonic Sigil that elevated their strength further while sharing fragments of his own Authority—one reason they were so formidable.

"How could an Archdemon even enter this world?" Tisha sighed. "Ugh… aren't Grievances worse?"

"They are certainly powerful," Louis replied, "but I believe an Archdemon is more dangerous. They surpass most Grievances in raw strength—comparable to gods from Fantasy Worlds. More importantly, they are highly intelligent. Though mad, they never let that madness override their rationality. They scheme and manipulate with genius-level cunning. That's how someone like Myrghoul reached such a position in the Vultarn High Dominion—a nation supposedly intolerant of otherworldly races, unlike the far more open Frostbane."

"But why didn't Queen Benladra slay that wicked fly?" Anastasia asked. "Why allow him to live alongside the rest of that empire?" She realized she had overstepped and quickly apologized. "I'm sorry… I shouldn't have questioned the queen's decisions…"

"No, it's fine," Gustaf sighed. "The real reason she never acted is because she didn't know he existed."

"She didn't?" Anastasia asked.

"Myrghoul's presence was only discovered after Benladra fell ill," Gustaf explained. "Most likely because he had been hiding from her."

"Archdemons—like any demon—can exist as pure souls," Louis added. "Ethereal beings can easily seal themselves within physical objects and reduce their presence to nothing. He likely controlled the Order of the Fly through such means. The voice we heard from that black gate opened by the Flies was almost certainly his. He watched everything unfold in silence. He is cautious—otherwise he wouldn't have survived this long."

Anastasia nodded quietly, absorbing the revelation of countless hidden threats lurking beyond plain sight. She had never imagined the Vultarn High Dominion harbored such a being—sealed away, waiting for the queen to fall into slumber.

"He likely intended to possess her body…" Louis said, breaking the silence. "With his powers and Mother's vessel, that monster would have been unstoppable. He would have claimed the entire planet for himself… Well, the only ones who could have opposed him would be the Abyssal Mother and the Nine Suns Venerable. But those beings… No, never mind."

The meeting continued for the rest of the day. They discussed every potential enemy and every looming threat. Louis also spoke of Soma and the danger posed by the Abyssal Mother Cult. He suspected Soma belonged to that cult—due to Handy, an Entity he had tamed—and suggested they might use this connection to their advantage. He also revealed he would attend the academy himself, prompting Gustaf to mention that a priest bearing the Compassion Spiral had been hired as a healer.

They faced two options: replace him with someone more trustworthy, or allow him to remain so they could monitor him closely—perhaps even let him lower his guard enough for them to eliminate him later. However, he was not acting alone. Behind him stood a monstrous evil goddess and the other enigmatic members of his cult.

Both paths carried risk, but in the long term, replacement seemed safer. The priest was swiftly removed from the project entirely. Louis had briefly considered keeping him close to learn more about the man, but ultimately decided against it. His presence posed too constant a threat to everyone involved.

♢♢♢♢

High above Frostbane's vast wilderness, Celestina streaked through the sky like a golden comet. After the meeting, Louis and his family had set out immediately for the Red Leaf Family territory. Just as before, Celestina had to obliterate several Entities along the route. The region was heavily infested, but because no one lived here, the creatures had been left unchecked—spreading their toxic Fantasium unchecked.

"We'll clear that eventually," Louis said. "Probably through field missions we'll receive at the academy. We can't let these things keep expanding forever. Hopefully we can later deploy Fantasium Purification Towers with force-field barriers to halt their growth completely."

"Hmm, there's so much work ahead," Mirai sighed. "I wish there were a faster way." 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

"Well…" Louis fell silent for a moment, recalling William's memories—how Mirai had been the destined one to free the world from the Dimensional Labyrinth by merging her own Fantasy into reality.

Her Fantasy of an "ordinary world" would ultimately save everyone.

Yet he had never reached that ending. He still did not know whether such an outcome was even possible.

"Hm?" Mirai tilted her head, waiting for him to continue.

He shook his head and gently patted her hair. "Nothing."

"...?"

Mirai remained curious but did not press further.

"We will arrive in an hour, Prince Louis," Celestina informed him.

He nodded, then moved to his room to rest for the remaining time before they reached their destination.

While sitting in a lotus position on his bed, he focused inward, concentrating on his Fractured Fantasy Heart.