“Darling Ruby. This ambition, this hunger. It pleases your old father.”

Lu Ignis smiled softly as tendrils of steam rose from his imposing form. He’d just finished basking in that potent elixir created from those lotus essences mixed with human milk that those ‘Washers’ had dutifully squirted into his bath water. A truly magical concoction he couldn’t live without.

"This determination is something we all share. Your grandfather possessed those burning embers and with it, those lands far to the south were claimed. And soon, darling daughter. Even the sky itself will tremble at your wrath."

“Yes Father.” Lu Ruby nodded with unyielding pride. She was certain, those ancient bloodlines pumping through her essence would prove their dominance against any opponent. she would rise.

"My training in Fol Ash has only just begun, Father. In a mere ten thousand years, I will have ascended to the Emperor Calamity stage."

"That arrogance is truly deserving, my darling child." Lu Ignis agreed while savoring those delightful pronouncements.

“She has your potential Emperor. Soon all of Yama Yaguai will hear Lu Ruby's name as those who opposed kneel in her shadows, that’s my prediction.” Elder Lu Mongue said gently as his tail traced a circular path on that platform.

Elder Lu Noid simply smiled and added: “A thousand year or perhaps two… she’ll crush those that challenged our might. And even dominate the secular competitions."

“Hmm…” Lu Ignis's thought deeply before speaking, “My darling daughter, you must endeavor to participate in those events.”

“What do you suggest Father?"

“This Great Divine Tribulation coming up, you have to make it yours.” He thought of Void Emperor Sindoll and his beard began swaying nervously. “Even though I hate her with my guts! She does grant blessings and amplifies one’s powers greatly! It’s an opportunity you cannot ignore. Daughter, that blessing will be yours! Your destiny, I will seal it with those very scales!”

Hearing those words, and witnessing their beloved Emperor so determined had those in the throne room feeling that perhaps she would succeed after all, even Lu Noid didn’t question or poke fun at this pronouncement. Lu Ruby was a terror waiting to bloom, for sure.

Lu Mongue couldn’t help but voiced this thought, "She has your essence, Your Majesty. Your child won’t fail.”

Lu Ruby nodded. "Indeed! I vow to bring you glory and claim Void Emperor Sindoll’s blessing.” She hissed confidently, for it was her duty as a filial daughter to never fail.

“Now about this upcoming trial to select contestants for the Great Divine Tribulation. Do we hold those ‘Selection Trials’ here in Hebikuni?” Lu Ignis inquired.

“Holding them within these sacred spaces might send a bad signal, your Majesty. There are those who consider our Serpent kin arrogant for simply demanding the most favorable trials. The whispering fools will have a day, surely, this is obvious.” Said Lu Mongue.

Those words had merit.

"Hmm, hmm, He's right!" Lu Noid added. "They say you hate those spiders who call the caverns their homes and want us crushed or devoured by that bastard wolf king from South. Perhaps it's best we allow those insects a day in the open?”

“That iss a risky option… the last time I opened the selection grounds to everyone in Ho Eastern, thousands perished! What a dreadful loss to this world. They should be more careful about those choices, but still. They all had those qualities I recognized, that of being easily fooled.”

Even his loving daughter felt a tinge of contempt because those ‘Trials’, they were his doing. It was Lu Ignis's pride that caused those deaths. They all knew this. But for those in his favor. Who was going to oppose his judgement? Surely those dead fools deserved their fates.

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"No matter," He shifted again on his trident. “The alternative then. Should we send invitations again to that wretch Hellphet? Within Ho Eastern, he is quite capable. However, maybe that bastard won’t join the selection after what happened the last time."

“Oh yes. Juniper? We are the victim this time Father.”

Lu Ignis almost gagged from the suddenness of his daughter recalling that bastard’s spawn’s pathetic death, what bad luck, for surely it wasn't worth talking about right now, at least not when he has much more delicate issues to attend.

"Enough of this reminiscing over deceased weaklings.” Lu Ignis shook those thoughts away. “A compromise, maybe that is what is needed here. We'll host the Selection Trials at ‘Mud Alter’. What say you, my esteemed advisors?"

This alternative suggestion surprised them, but none dared oppose, at least not those whose sanity and position mattered. “That sounds great my liege.” Lu Noid simply said.

As for Elder Mongue, well, he also thought it was for the best. Those ‘Mud Alters’ at the edges of their territory were large, flat, and the soil in that place was potent indeed for battles.

Those creatures without limbs wouldn’t have to fear losing a limb. The sight would truly bring joy. He chuckled softly, envisioning a massive tortoise flipping on its back in those sludgy quicksands.

“I am satisfied. Darling, this will be… Hmm?" Lu Ignis suddenly sensed something amiss.

RUMBLE!

The very ground beneath them quivered. Those jade pillars lining the throne room groaned ominously.

“Hmm…? What’s this…?”

Before Lu Ignis or any of his court could react, a brilliant violet ray of light, thin at first, but rapidly growing, pierced the ceiling. This strange sight drew those gazes upwards as everyone watched in astonishment and awe as the ray solidified into an intricate shape above their heads.

It wasn't lightning nor fire they beheld, rather it was something more beautiful and ancient; a ghostly translucent lotus flower.

While their focus was occupied above, something even more bizarre happened. The air crackled with an intense energy that had their scales tingling.

Lu Ignis instinctively understood. Something had breached those barriers within the treasury.

The tranquility of the Emperor's court vanished after those lotus petals began glowing more rapidly. It was as if that ghostly flower screamed: “INTRUDER!”

"Vault Implant!" Lu Ignis was alarmed, but there was another truth to behold. “Someone’s triggering those array inside my treasury? But... Lu Kimlung is there right now!"

“What?” Lu Ruby recoiled instinctively.

Lu Ignis wasn't about to wait for answers to simply present themselves on those scales! There was none as mighty, as brilliant, nor worthy as himself in Hebikuni and those beyond it. It was HIS domain and none other’s, he repeated those very facts to his frightened courtiers.

His long, snake tongue darted out with the precision of an expert marksman's arrow and unleashed a small droplets of pearly, glistening liquid onto those pristine floors below before speaking with thunderous intent.

“Vault Implant – Portal Open!”

BOOM! CRACK! WHOOSH!

An ear-shattering blast ripped through the chamber as purple fires converged erratically. It then settle before the terrified gathering. When the smoke began clearing, a shape appeared from the center. A purple energy dome adorned with purple runes materialized before them.

This vision had everyone stunned, but for Lu Ignis, the terror wasn't about seeing his most powerful and efficient protection system triggered under his nose. It was those fools who were trapped inside that transparent prison dome.

For within the confines, they witnessed two black serpents slamming against the dome’s impenetrable barrier, desperately trying to escape. Those echoes resonated so tragically. It was truly dreadful.

However, what had those in those chamber gagging on their very tongues was this.

Both trapped serpent were Lu Ignis's Sun Imperial Guards assigned to his daughter. The armor. That was obvious, but what confused even the Emperor and those elder serpent sages was,

Why were these fools thrashing around inside such an energy barrier?

Were they accidentally trapped?

It didn't add up at all. The absurdity of those scaly forms was so baffling to them all.

Lu Ruby who stared intently, had one burning thought. ‘W-what are my guardsss doing inside Father’s vault? This… impossible?’ She stared hard. Could they have somehow betrayed her at the sight of greater treasures?

It had to be!

The evidence was piling up now as she saw her guards and their pathetic attempt at breaching their escape. This amplified her fear of having been associated with those who’d break into a space that not even an Emperor Calamity dares.

This was disaster beyond any scale, those tales would spread for sure now. Her dreams, her ambitions were in peril because… what if she was branded an accomplice?

She shuddered. Then took a deep breath before slithering close enough to their prisoner with anger, curiosity and those familiar notes of deception and self-preservation oozing from her scales.

“Father… I can’t…" Lu Ruby froze, she didn’t know what to say to appease her father.

“Huh! Where are we…?” Raphael gasped and stopped pounding the barrier. He had just know realized the situation.

They'd somehow been transported from the reliquary to before the accusing eyes of an Emperor Calamity and those sneers and judgement from the serpent’s.

They were truly trapped now.

This time… with no way out.