Chapter 949: Chapter 535: Nothing Is Brought at Birth, Nothing Is Taken at Death, Valuables Deposit Box_4

The greater the influence of a betrayed contract, the heavier the burden will be."

As soon as the words were spoken, the Bearkin felt a weight on his feet.

Upon looking down, he saw hundreds of pale ghostly hands underwater, gripping tightly at his ankles, desperately dragging him down.

When he discerned the owners of those hands, he was greatly startled.

They were actually his own people whom he had just frozen to death with his move "Ice Age."

Unexpectedly, in his moment of betrayal to kill Byron, abandoning the oath to lead his followers to glory, he immediately met with backlash.

"You are already dead, do not hinder me, all of you go away!"

Ulysses flailed his legs, struggling to swim forward with them.

Honestly, Byron thought the Bayfolk Berserker had been quite reliable before, aside from this batch of soldiers, there weren’t many "debtors."

Just like past monarchs, who seemed benevolent to generals before ascending the throne, only to kill them once seated, never changing their nature, choosing whichever mode benefitted them most.

Thus, the Bearkin, with his Fifth Order strength, although strained, was not immediately dragged to the river bottom while swimming.

The riverbank was just ahead, and a trace of post-crisis relief showed on Ulysses’ face.

Byron silently raised a third finger, reminding him:

"The third rule of crossing the river: The nature of the Styx of the Nether River is consistent with the periodic Great Flood; even gods being continuously washed by this river would have their divinity eroded, their rank diminished.

Even to be completely consumed by the Nether River’s master, transformed into their power.

The longer washed, the greater the loss of divinity.

Thus, hesitation... leads to defeat!"

Ulysses instinctively turned to look downstream of the Nether River, horrified to find the black river water flowing over him was now frothing with colorful bubbles.

Contained within were fragments of memories full of joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness, solidified senses of morality and honor, and the spirituality representing power and transcendent ability...

Seeing them, Ulysses’ expression became somewhat dazed, sensing these things were very important to him, yet he could not remember what they were.

Evidently, under the rules harbored by the Nether River, even the Winter’s Secret Case, which the Sure-Hit Spear, Gungnir could not pierce, could no longer protect his soul.

Bang!

Soon, the chains on his body snapped one by one, and the [Kingly Title] temporarily granted by Margaret I disappeared from above his head.

Unfortunately, he was merely a Regent Prince, and had not inherited the true King’s Title, the river water, nor the "Why did you carve your name on my pipe" could not take this Crown away.

Instead, the Frost Giant’s Winter Secret Box was washed out from his body by the river water, grabbed immediately by Byron.

He never glanced at Ulysses, who had been thoroughly dragged into the river bottom by undead.

He took a step forward, returning to the icebound military port of the Material World.

The remaining Frost Giant Guardsmen were watching the place from where they disappeared, surprised to see only Byron emerge.

They hesitated whether to fight or flee.

Byron smiled at them:

"I consumed quite a bit killing Ulysses; if you run now, maybe some of you really might escape."

The Bearkin’s Guardsmen exchanged a glance, then immediately scattered and fled.

But as soon as they took two steps, they heard a hundred sea monsters roar in their ears.

Then darkness fell before their eyes, and they knew nothing more.

Byron looked at the numerous semi-transparent spiritual body sea monsters around, shaking his head at those Guardsmen:

"I was teasing you."

Yet, the souls of the surrounding sea monsters were immediately swept into the Nether River upon death, becoming part of the Mad Hunt Legion, more precisely the mounts of the sea monster knights.

After the merge of [The Mad Hunt] and [The Sea Hunter] titles, legion members were no longer limited to humans, and the powerful sea monsters were certainly recruitment targets not to be missed.

Unfortunately, compared to their mighty physical bodies, the souls of sea monsters, especially those inferior ones born only after pollution, were far less strong than their bodies, retaining a tenth of their power was [Holy Spirit]’s blessing.

After thoroughly clearing the battlefield, Byron’s figure flickered, and he reappeared riding the Eight-legged Sky Horse back on the [Golden Deer].

Having Mother Heather remove the signal shield over the military port.

The reinforcements called by the Bearkin were close, perfect for collecting the bodies.

The accompanying Violet approached eagerly:

"Byron, should we storm the Kalmar Union homeland, while that stubborn old hag is away, and take over the Kalmar Triad?"

"No!"

Byron gave her a mysterious smile:

"Based on the Eastern Continent’s experience, this is only the first wave of the beast tide; soon there will be a second, third... even a sea monster legion commanded by the Sea Heirs.

With the most loyal legitimate forces of the Union buried at once by the Bearkin, the entire Union is already precarious.

So now, it isn’t us rushing to want the Kalmar Union’s Crown, but the Kolmar Alliance needing a... powerful protector!

The Evernight Queen enjoys meddling in other people’s business, using her own people’s lives to please the Church, doesn’t she?

Now that the nation is in trouble, I plan to see whether she will come back.

In her heart, what matters more: her own country and people, or her faith in the Church?"

Violet frowned:

"But if she chooses to return and protect her people, won’t that leave us with nothing to do?"

Byron sneered coldly:

"Then I will be eagerly anticipating... when the Holy Spirit tells her ’You are not pious’, what kind of expression she will have."

Upon hearing this, Violet and the others nearby couldn’t help but shudder.

They felt that the Hell Painter’s previous assessment of him as ’a devil’ was indeed appropriate.

If they weren’t partnered with him, they would definitely have run as far away as possible.

Byron shrugged, turning to watch the receding Eternal Night Peninsula and Faroe Islands:

"Against someone like the Evernight Queen, physical destruction is meaningless; only by shattering everything she stands for and believes in with my own hands can I repay her best.

The Kalmar Union of Three Nations’ Crown, not only do I intend to wear it, but I also want those pro-Church factions to kneel and personally place it on me!"