Chapter 528: The Children of the Imperial Family have a Party

The Kael’Dri Estate was in a full festive mode, or it seemed like it. There was a small party going on, organized by the eldest children of the Kael’Dris, Regnare, and Xander. This might seem... unnecessary, but you gotta enjoy once in a while...

Delphina, who now looked like a twenty-year-old lady, set up the place with her cousin, Ivy, Lamair’s daughter, who was a giantess. Lamair’s line was a line of 8-foot-tall giants, so his children picked it up, and it became even more defined after the primord ascension.

Werock and Devon helped by arguing loudly.

"This is crooked."

"It’s not crooked, your eyes are crooked."

"The banner is literally leaning!"

"It’s called style, Devon. Ever heard of it?"

"I’ve heard of doing things properly."

"And I’ve heard of you losing to me in three different games yesterday."

Devon froze.

"...We are not bringing that up here."

Werock grinned, adjusting the floating decorations with a lazy flick of his fingers. The glowing ribbons straightened, perfectly this time.

"...There. Fixed. By me."

Devon clicked his tongue but didn’t argue further, instead turning to reposition a set of hovering lanterns that pulsed with soft golden light. Across the courtyard, Delphina stood with her hands on her hips, inspecting the setup like a commander reviewing troops.

"Move that table two steps to the left," she said.

"It is two steps to the left," Ivy replied flatly.

"Then move it another two."

Ivy didn’t argue. She simply bent down, grabbed the massive stone table with one hand, and slid it across the courtyard like it weighed nothing.

"...You enjoy this too much," Delphina muttered.

Ivy shrugged.

"It’s efficient."

Nearby, Eric and Ericson were doing something that could only loosely be described as "helping."

"...You’re holding it upside down."

"No I’m not."

"You are. The runes are inverted."

"They look cooler this way."

"That’s not how enchantments work!"

"...Says who?"

"Says basic logic!"

The twins paused. Then, in perfect sync, they flipped the construct.

"...Fine."

"...Happy now?"

A soft hum filled the air as the enchantment stabilized, casting a gentle glow over the surrounding area. Not far from them, Xander lounged on one of the elevated platforms, lazily observing everything with a faint smirk. One leg was draped over the armrest, his posture completely relaxed.

"Impressive," he muttered. "No one’s blown anything up yet."

Regnare stood beside him, arms crossed, his sharp gaze sweeping across the estate.

"They’ve improved."

Xander tilted his head slightly.

"Or we lowered our expectations."

Regnare didn’t respond, but the faint twitch at the corner of his lips said enough. At the far end of the courtyard, two much smaller figures were causing a very different kind of chaos.

Sol waddled forward with determined little steps, holding what looked like a glowing fruit far too big for him. Selene followed behind, her tiny hands trying and failing to grab it.

"Mine!"

"Na! Na!"

Sol turned and ran. Selene gasped dramatically and gave chase. Both toddlers collided with Devon’s leg at full speed. Devon looked down while they looked up.

A long pause followed.

"...I’m under attack," Devon announced.

Werock didn’t even turn.

"Defend yourself."

"I can’t. They’re small."

Selene tugged at Devon’s pants.

"Up!"

Sol raised the glowing fruit like a trophy.

"Mine!"

Devon sighed, then bent down and picked both of them up effortlessly, placing one on each shoulder.

"There. Now you’re both mine."

"Na!"

"Mine!"

"...I regret everything."

Laughter broke out around the courtyard. Xander glanced toward the entrance of the estate, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"...They’re coming."

Regnare followed his gaze.

A faint smile appeared.

"About time."

The air shifted subtly. And though the laughter didn’t stop, everyone there felt it. Something big was approaching. But for now, the celebration continued.

...

The Kael’Dri estate shifted from elegant celebration to absolute chaos in seconds.

"MOVE—MOVE—MOVE!"

"I am moving!"

"That’s not moving, that’s dying slowly!"

At the center of it all sat two large holo-screens, projecting a high-speed, hyper-realistic battlefield. Explosions lit up the room in flashes of orange and blue as two characters sprinted, slid, and fired through a war-torn city.

The title blinked at the top:

CALL TO DUTY – FINAL ROUND

Regnare sat on the left, posture straight, eyes sharp, controller steady in his hands. His movements were precise and calculated, every action deliberate.

Xander sat on the right, leaning back, half-slouched, the controller loose in his grip. He was smiling like he wasn’t taking this seriously at all.

"I’m telling you," Xander said lazily, "you’re about to lose."

Regnare didn’t even look at him.

"Focus."

"I am focused. On your defeat."

"Three... two... one—GO!"

The room erupted.

On Regnare’s side, Delphina slammed her fist into her palm. "Crown Prince, don’t hold back!"

Ivy crossed her arms. "He doesn’t need encouragement."

Eric leaned forward. "Left! LEFT! He’s flanking you!"

Ericson immediately countered. "Ignore him! He’s wrong half the time!"

Eric frowned. "I am not..."

"Focus!"

Meanwhile, Xander’s side...

Devon was practically on the table. "YES! RUSH HIM! RUSH HIM!"

Werock grinned. "Don’t rush. Bait him."

"Why would you bait when you can obliterate?"

"Because strategy exists."

"Strategy is boring."

Selene clapped from Devon’s shoulder. "Boom!"

Sol raised both hands. "Boom!!"

"See? Even they agree with me," Devon declared proudly.

Regnare moved first.

His character slid behind cover, reloading smoothly before tossing a flash grenade with perfect timing. Xander’s screen went white for a split second.

"Cheap," Xander muttered.

"Effective," Regnare replied calmly.

He pushed forward.

Shots rang out, clean, controlled bursts. Xander’s health dropped.

Delphina smirked. "It’s over."

Xander blinked once.

Then, his fingers moved fast.

His character dropped to the ground, rolled sideways, and vanished behind a collapsing wall just as Regnare’s final shot missed by inches.

"MISS!"

Devon howled.

"GET HIM!"

Xander’s grin widened.

"Now we play."

He reappeared behind Regnare’s position.

A single shot. Regnare reacted instantly. He blocked and countered. Both characters clashed in close combat.

The room went insane.

"FINISH HIM!"

"DON’T YOU DARE LOSE!"

"LEFT! LEFT!"

"STOP SAYING LEFT!"

"IT IS LEFT!"

"IT’S RIGHT NOW!"

The toddlers screamed.

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

Ivy sighed.

"This is unbearable."

Delphina didn’t look away.

"Silence."

[Final exchange.]

Both characters were low. Both were one hit away from defeat. Time slowed. Regnare’s eyes sharpened. Xander leaned forward slightly.

For the first time, he was serious.

They moved at the same time. There was a shot, then a dodge, then a counter, then a strike...

The screen froze.

A loud sound echoed.

[ASMODEUS_KAEL’DRI WINS!]

Silence, then...

EXPLOSION.

"LET’S GOOOOOO!"

Devon flipped a chair.

Werock laughed.

Selene clapped wildly.

Sol shouted, "Boom!!!"

Xander leaned back again, stretching lazily.

"Told you."

Regnare stared at the screen for a moment.

Then exhaled.

"...Again."

Xander tilted his head.

"Oh?"

A faint smirk formed on Regnare’s lips.

"I wasn’t finished."

The room went wild again.

Delphina cracked her knuckles.

"Run it back."

Ivy sighed again.