I Refused To Be Reincarnated
Chapter 524: The King’s Secret

Chapter 524: The King’s Secret

Amidst the chaos, a mage burst into the room. He kneeled before his king, icy sweat marring his neat uniform and voice cracking in dread.

"The Beast Emperor launched a full-blown assault against our kingdom! His ally is ravaging our cities with another flying bastion, and thousands of citizens are dying by the second."

Despite his advanced age, the king’s jaws bulged, and fury burned in his gray eyes as he leaned over the balcony. His fingers whitened around the cold metallic rail as a gale of burning air ruffled his beard while the Emperor’s grating laughter reverberated amidst the rising smoke.

Raging flames engulfed everything he had worked so hard to build. His once-happy citizens were dying one after another, their charred corpses wafting the disgusting odor of burned meat.

His eyes narrowed as he watched an army leap from the distant bastion.

’How does he have hundreds of adepts and thousands of mages under him?’

Despite the confusing question, he had no time to delve into it. Instead, protecting everyone from certain doom took priority.

The rail cracked under his clenched fists’ pressure. An inferno of green flames dancing in his eyes, he assessed the several kilometers separating them.

"Please follow us. We can escape if we move now!"

However, Alice’s worried voice reached his ears as he felt his royal mage captain’s gentle touch on his shoulder.

"We can’t escape their pursuit."

With a bitter smile, he shook his head. Even if he hid himself, he could feel the other archmage scrutinising them like a feral beast ready to pounce on prey.

"Please, my king! As long as you survive, we can rebuild the country. Don’t give up!"

Mathias pleaded next, dropping to one knee and lowering his head to hide the tears welling in his eyes.

His heart pounded in his chest as he weighed the consequences of his decision. He knew that fighting would mean certain death for his people and probably for himself, but the thought of abandoning his kingdom filled him with a deep sense of guilt.

’This stupid flaw is acting again...’

If not for it, he would have already rushed out to fight without caring for his life or the consequences. But was it really the problem, or did his age and experience play a role, too? He didn’t know.

Ever since he lost her sixty years ago, he had become indecisive. Still, there was one thing he was sure about.

A flash of determination sparkled in his eyes as he gazed at Julius.

"Don’t worry, my friends. Nothing will happen to you until I die," he said through gritted teeth, unwilling to let the boy and his brother die in the chaos he was responsible for, even if he would have to expose himself.

A subtle stream of invisible energy encased everyone as his voice reverberated powerfully.

"We leave now."

Letting out deep sighs of relief, Alice and Mathias stormed into the corridor and guided the group below the palace.

Mid-way, Matias left them and returned with a carriage adorned with the royal coat of arms as they stood before a secret passage.

The moment they sat on the comfortable seats, the knight whipped the horses and sped into the dark tunnel.

"I’m sorry, my king. We need to pass through the sewers."

Mathias yelled from the driver’s seat, uncomfortable with escorting his liege in this filthy place. Yet what choice did they have?

"I don’t mind. Focus on the road."

Unbothered, his eyes narrowed on Julius’ muscular figure and the dense aura of vitality wafting through his skin.

"You are more special than you think. In fact, you shouldn’t even exist in this world."

Julius glimpsed at his silent big brother, noticing his ashen face and the despair distorting his features. He knew Adam would need time to recover. After all, the thing he had dreaded the most happened.

Instead, the boys focused on Leon, his lips parting.

"I’m just a cultivator. Even if it’s rare, isn’t Mathias one, too?"

"Let us leave the city first. You’ll understand everything after I tell you my story."

He offered Julius a reassuring smile and fell silent, manipulating his energy in an intricate dance to hide their tracks from the two invaders’ prying eyes.

Yet, his words didn’t go unnoticed as Alice’s ears perked up, impatient to hear how their mysterious yet charismatic and just king lived before ascending to the throne.

Accompanied by a deafening silence, they raced through the dark passage, hoping not to meet the two monsters.

Half an hour later, they emerged by the river supplying the city with fresh water and boarded a small boat Mathias insisted on preparing in case of emergencies.

’Who would have thought his younger years paranoia would save us one day?’

A bitter taste filled Leon’s mouth as they navigated the calm river downstream.

He observed the flames devour his capital city on their way, the wind blowing a veil of ash into their noses and covering their clothes in sooth.

As he did, Ossian and The Beast Emperor combed the palace, searching for them before gathering in the throne room.

"The rats escaped."

Ossian’s displeased snicker reverberated against the jade-covered walls, and his arms tensed in displeasure.

"That old dog is hiding his presence. But you can’t escape, Leon! You have nothing to do in this land!"

Echoing the Emperor’s declaration, jet-black wings unfurled from his back. Like a rocket accompanied by the rumbling noise of the collapsing ceiling, he reached the sky in a split second, his eagle’s eyes scanning the ground to find his prey.

***

Six hours later, the group sighed in relief as they entered a hidden cave arranged by Mathias.

"This is one of our shelters in case of crises. We have a few more filled with water and food, so we should be able to escape without starving."

Mathis removed his helmet, revealing his short blond hair, stern expression, and deep blue eyes as he bowed to Leon.

"For your care and foresight, I thank you, my dear friend," Leon said, warmth spreading around his aged heart and a promise filling it: nothing would happen to them.

Then, he gazed at Julius’ hazel eyes, the corner of his lips rising into a subtle smile.

"Let me recount my unbelievable story. I came from a far, far away place where mages didn’t exist outside of legends and bedtime stories. Yet, a place where pure strength could make the sky bend and the earth rumble."

Shocked by the revelation, everyone gazed at him. Magic ruled the world. It was common knowledge, so where was this mysterious place?

Awakened by the revelation and familiar description, Adam’s eyes trembled, and the puzzle’s missing pieces fell into their slots.

’The bone’s description! He was the youth who set Decarabia free and killed him! Boundless life force!"

Before he could continue on his line of thought, the king, amused by their confusion, continued with his story.

"I’m not from this world."

Adam’s eyes bulged as his thoughts rumbled like a storm, branding the burning truth in his mind and solving a mystery that had plagued him for two years.

’HE IS THE MYSTERIOUS L!’

However, a memory added itself, blinding his inner world with a possibility he hadn’t considered until now.

’L and Lin Yao are the same individual!’

After all, he called him L because Nova forgot his name after sixty years, not to mention Gaston’s description of the man’s green eyes.

’His eyes flashed green several times!’

Feeling his deduction plausible, his features distorted into a mask of pure shock, and his soul throbbed... because all his hopes and plans to retrieve one of their dan tians just collapsed like a house of cards.