The Greece Antagonist

On the deep night of the next day, the palace of Thebes.

A cold wind passed through the doors and windows, pouring into the great hall, where King Pentheus, sitting alone on the throne with eyes closed in meditation, heard a creaking noise. He couldn't help but shiver and, in a fluster, stood up, drawing the bronze longsword from the rack beside him and looked around vigilantly.

"Who's there? Quit these ghostly tricks and come out!"

Waving the bronze sword in his hand through the air, Pentheus issued a warning.

However, the only response to him was the whistling of the wind outside the door.

It was merely a false alarm.

A faint blush colored Pentheus's face, which subsided as he sheepishly slid the bronze sword back into its sheath, relaxing his anxious heart slightly.

Yet, even so, the thought of that handsome young intruder who had appeared and vanished without a trace in the great hall last night caused the young king's expression to become uncertain.

With all those Divine Blood Guards keeping watch, they still hadn't noticed how he had disappeared.

Moreover, after two continuous days of searching the entire palace and city, the guards still hadn't found any trace of the man.

If it was so easy for him to infiltrate and disappear, did that also mean that if the man wanted to assassinate the king, it would be equally effortless?

Realizing that this threat might still be lurking in some corner of the palace, Pentheus was immediately filled with a sense of chilling dread and couldn't help but lower his head to look at the token engraved with the image of a toxic dragon next to the throne.

The heretics of the Dionysian Sect were still locked in the dungeon. If he were to release them...

Accompanying his wandering thoughts, his hand hesitantly reached below.

"What's wrong? Have a mere imposter god's tricks frightened you?"

The sudden voice echoed in the empty great hall, Pentheus's complexion darkened, and he immediately drew his sword and turned around, going on the defensive.

However, a pale finger lightly pressed against the blade, effortlessly pinning down the weapon capable of cutting through metal as easily as mud.

"It's me..."

A deep and slightly hoarse voice came from in front of the throne amidst a blood-red mist, while the entire great hall, unbeknownst to when, had filled with a ghostly red glow.

A pair of long, narrow eyes imbued with crimson scrutinized the young King of Thebes, shaking their head in disdainful laughter.

"Descendant of Cadmus, the dragon slayer, and blood kin of Ares, the War God, a true scion of divinity, is actually afraid of a mere imposter god, an utter disgrace to your ancestors."

"I am not!"

Pentheus felt a surge of blood rush to his face, making his cheeks flush red as he stiffened his neck and loudly retorted, seemingly trying to prove something to the enigmatic figure before him.

"Where is your courage then? Show it to me." The figure in the blood mist looked down provocatively, gently coaxing, "Being humiliated to your face and letting him escape in front of a crowd, what should you do with such a man who has brought shame upon you?"

"I will butcher him sooner or later!"

Anger rose in Pentheus's heart, and he sneered coldly.

The figure in the blood mist nodded approvingly at this answer.

"That's more like it, my king. You should be the most esteemed being in this land, any who dare defy you shall pay in blood!"

Hearing the blood shadow's praise, the young king was immediately invigorated. Enjoy more content from empire

However, thinking of last night's scene, he soon felt depressed and troubled again.

"True, but the guy ran too fast. My men couldn't keep up, and if we can't catch him, what can we do?"

The blood shadow glanced at Pentheus who was complaining and smirked, a fleeting contempt in their eyes before speaking softly.

"He can run, but some people can't get away."

"What do you mean?" Pentheus pondered thoughtfully.

"Since that heretical god claims to be 'merciful,' I wonder if he would be willing to make a small sacrifice for his innocent followers?"

Upon hearing the meaningful whisper in his ear, Pentheus instantly understood and excitedly grabbed the City Builder token beside the throne, infusing it with Divine Power and activating the Runes within.

Soon, a squad of Divine Blood Guards opened the main doors of the palace's great hall and entered in succession, asking the king on the throne with bated breath.

"Your Majesty, what are your orders?"

"Immediately go to the dungeon, hang all the heretics in the square one by one, until that runaway heretic from last night surrenders!"

Pentheus sneered as he tossed the token, giving the directive.

Upon hearing this, the captain of the Imperial Guard hesitated, carefully reminding him.

"But Your Majesty, your mother and several of your aunts are also in the dungeon, should we..."

However, the hesitation only caused Pentheus's face to darken, his eyes flaring up with a furious crimson.

"Silence! Whosoever worships a false god, whoever joins a heretical sect, they are condemned to death! Execute them all!"

"By your command..."Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Under his tyrannical gaze, the captain of the Imperial Guard dared not speak further, reluctantly picking up the token from the ground and summoning his men to head toward the dungeon.

After the Divine Blood Guard assigned with the task had completely vanished from his sight, Pentheus immediately turned his head, eager to inquire.

"How did I do?"

The shadow in the darkness applauded with a smile, eyes revealing approval.

"That's how a wise monarch should act; you surpass even your grandfather!"

Pentheus nodded in satisfaction, his young face aglow with excitement and cruelty under the blood-red light.

Yes, I am the king of Thebes!

None shall defy my will! Not even the gods!

However, just as Pentheus was reveling in his delightful fantasy, the squad of Imperial Guards that had previously been ordered to the dungeons returned, their faces aghast.

"Your Majesty, it's terrible! The heretics have escaped!"