Chapter 301

While the Eredar Twins were wickedly plotting to murder Evenson’s beloved consort, he himself knew nothing of it. He had entered an extremely strange state. Before his eyes was truly… a sea of flowers.

Inside a massive circular arena, gongs and drums thundered while firecrackers crackled! Deafening loudspeakers blended with the cheers of the audience.

"Colorful flags flutter in the tavern, Hearthstone heroes show their might. Princes and bishops vie for first place, doing whatever they please to win glory, win glory!"

Evenson stared in complete bewilderment, but what happened next was even harder for him to accept.

The doggerel from the loudspeaker abruptly stopped, replaced by an impassioned march. Then the host excitedly announced, "Now approaching us is the champion of the 100,003rd Usaless Cup Hearthstone Tournament, Lord Usaless!"

Evenson stood dumbfounded as he watched the Fel Maiden Usaless, draped in a bright red cape and holding an orange trophy high overhead, solemnly goose-stepping around the arena in time with the march.

"In this tournament, she defeated every other contestant with overwhelming strength and an absolute advantage. Let us cheer for our lord’s great victory!"

The host’s words seemed to flip some kind of switch, and the entire arena instantly erupted in a unified chant. "Welcome, welcome, a warm welcome!"

Evenson looked around. The spectator stands were packed full of… well, souls, probably. They were all translucent, and they came in different forms, likely representing quite a few races.

Yet their movements were absolutely standardized and synchronized. They held bouquets in both hands and swayed them from side to side. Despite their numbers, their broad movements were perfectly coordinated, with no more than a second of deviation. Sigh, who knew how many times they had rehearsed this?

Evenson silently raised his head and stared up at the sky at a forty-five-degree angle. He felt like his whole world had gone wrong. This definitely was not Usaless’s inner world. Absolutely impossible!

Uthalesh, the Wind Reaver, was an artifact that had harvested countless souls, making innumerable Sorcerers covet it while also fearfully avoiding it. Such a lofty and evil existence—how could her inner world possibly be like this? It was as impossible as an Imperial general selling discs while moonlighting as a fortune teller!

"Hm? Hm?! Hm!" Usaless, who had been happily goose-stepping, suddenly sensed something. Her movements froze with a creak, and her expression shifted through countless changes before she finally roared viciously, "Enough!!"

With that shout, the arena, audience, host, trophy, and everything else vanished, replaced by a dark, empty space containing only Usaless and Evenson.

A red mist churned, and the Fel Maiden once again transformed into her enormous form: a bald, giant bat. "You damned Sorcerer, how dare you come here!"

Was this what they called a crossdressing master? Usaless looked terrifying in her current form. Her bald head alone was as tall as Evenson, and razor-sharp teeth dripped with blood.

She planted both hands beside Evenson and leaned her head close, as though she were about to swallow him whole.

Anyone else might have been frightened to death on the spot. But who was Evenson? He merely raised his head and met Usaless’s gaze, completely calm and unflustered. As he had said, wasn’t it a little too late to try salvaging her image now?

After witnessing that scene, no one could possibly feel heartfelt awe toward this Fel Maiden anymore.

"Urgh!" Seeing that Evenson was not afraid, Usaless could only let out a frustrated roar and return to her original form.

She clenched both fists before her face. Her arms trembled from the force she used, and her teeth ground together audibly. It was clear just how much she hated this!

Usaless had gone through quite a few Sorcerers, but none of them had ever discovered her little hobby, much less witnessed that farce just now. Damn it! Was it easy spending tens of thousands of years inside a scythe? These little hobbies were all I had to entertain myself, yet this one man stumbled onto every last one of them in a single day. We must be cursed enemies!

"Fine. What did you come here for?" Only after gnashing her teeth for quite some time did Usaless remember there was actual business to discuss.

"It’s not like I wanted to come in here," Evenson thought. After coming in, my worldview nearly shattered. What ghost would willingly enter this place?

"Oh? I understand." Usaless’s eyes shifted as a knowing smile appeared on her face. "I must feel so good to use that you became intoxicated by my charm and couldn’t bear to let go, right?"

Only those who could not fully control Usaless, yet became hopelessly addicted to her power, would be dragged into this space… and generally speaking, there was no return from here.

"Mm…" Evenson’s mouth twitched. Setting aside the misleading ambiguity in her words, he had to admit that she was more or less right. Usaless really was quite good to use, and the feeling of reaping all living things really was exhilarating.

"Hmph. I thought you’d have more backbone, but you’re just like all the other idiots." Usaless curled her lip disdainfully, her expression practically screaming, Why aren’t you licking this Queen’s hooves yet?

"But as your wielder, I believe I should have the right to call upon that power." Evenson deliberately avoided the sensitive word "master."

"What power? That is all my power, idiot!" Usaless shouted sharply, but then she regained her composure. "Besides, I never acknowledged you as my wielder."

"But we already negotiated terms and made an agreement." Evenson took a step forward.

"Hmph, hahaha!" Usaless clutched her stomach and burst into laughter. "I am the Lord of the Nazreim, the king of Fel Lords." Usaless pointed at Evenson teasingly. "I understand deception and word games better than you do. Did you really think I wouldn’t see how much room there was to maneuver in a vague verbal agreement?"

"Put away your little tricks, Sorcerer." Usaless spread her hands. "That little agreement means nothing at all. However…" Her tone shifted. "If you truly want to use my power, there is a way."

"What is it?" Evenson asked.

"Become one with me." Usaless spread her arms. "Let our souls merge into one, and you will naturally possess my power—all of it."

Evenson fell silent, while Usaless continued tempting him. "I will not erase your will, nor will I actively seek him out. I will only offer you a few small suggestions and some assistance. To exchange such a tiny price for such tremendous power—wouldn’t that be worthwhile?"

A major promotion tomorrow. A burst of updates… well, anyway, there will be extra chapters. The exact number has yet to be decided.