Path To Godhood Begins With Marrying Wife And Gaining SSS Rank Skill - Chapter 248

Chapter 248: 248:A Year From Now
TAP! TAP! TAP!

Heavy footsteps echoed through the long stone corridor.It was slow and deliberate yet each step sounded like a hammer striking a coffin. Torches along the walls flickered violently as if reacting to the presence that approached.

SWOOSH.

A terrifying aura burst outward that was cold and suffocating. Knights standing on both sides of the corridor stiffened. Their hands trembled on their weapons. One by one, they stepped back, lowering their heads, clearing a path without daring to speak.

A burly, monstrous man walked forward.

His body was huge, almost unnatural. Thick muscles stretched beneath the dark shirt,and every step he took cracked the stone floor slightly. His eyes were dull yet sharp, like those of a beast that had tasted blood too many times. He moved until he reached the end of the hall.

There, an old man stood calmly, leaning on a twisted staff. His robe was dark and worn, and his face was thin, filled with deep wrinkles. His eyes, however, were sharp and cruel.

“You called me!”

The burly man stopped and looked down slightly, his voice rough and low.

“Hmm!” The old man replied as his gaze swept over the man emitting monstrous power.

“Your condition seemed to be degrading!”

The burly man let out a slow breath.

“Hmmm… It is..”

His jaw tightened, and hatred flashed across his face.

“If not for the curse of that bitch, I wouldn’t have been suffering like this..” He extended his hand forward. It trembled uncontrollably, veins bulging beneath the skin. “If not for that, the entire Kingdom would be in my grasp and it might have extended beyond the border.. Everyone would have bowed to me irrespective of the status.”

The air grew heavier as he spoke, filled with resentment and bitterness.

“Hmm!” The old man responded again, his tone unreadable.

After a brief silence, the old man tilted his head slightly.

“About the deal.. how is it going?”

“The freedom and power you are enjoying it’s only because I allotted it to you.”

The burly man’s lips curved into a grim smile.He clapped his hands together.

CLANG!

The sound echoed through the hall like a death bell.

The old man looked down.

From behind the burly man, a trail of bodies was dragged across the stone floor. Men and women, young and old, bound with ropes. Their clothes were torn and stained with blood and dirt. Some cried openly. Some begged while crawling forward on their knees.

“Please… let us go…”

“We didn’t do anything…”

“I have children…”

“Spare us… please…”

Their voices overlapped in desperate whispers and broken screams. Tears streamed down faces twisted with fear. Some tried to reach out, hands shaking, nails scraping uselessly against the stone.

The old man’s eyes remained cold.

“Silence them!” he ordered.

The moment those words fell, knights stepped forward without hesitation.

Steel flashed and swords slashed through the air.

Heads rolled across the floor.

Blood sprayed against the walls and pooled on the ground. Screams were cut short, replaced by wet, choking sounds. Bodies collapsed lifelessly, eyes wide and empty.

The hall filled with the smell of iron and death.

A monstrous smile spread across the old man’s lips. His eyes gleamed with satisfaction as he watched the bodies fall.”What a great harvest?”

The burly man chuckled deeply, clearly pleased with the old man’s reaction.

“What are you going to do with all these?” he asked.

The old man clenched his fist slowly. His knuckles cracked as he raised it, power and hatred boiling beneath his skin.

“A year from now.”

The words echoed ominously.

The burly man repeated softly, tasting the words.

“A year from now….”

The old man’s smile widened, twisted and full of madness.

“A year from now.. The Kingdom shall witness my dread.”

……

After knowing how much he lacked,whenever he got some free time, Ethan devoted himself to magic.

It felt strenuous and boring in the beginning, but slowly he began to fall in love with learning new things. Every spell he practiced brought a small sense of achievement, and with each day his control grew sharper.

Quake…..Quake.

Mana rippled through the garden as he trained. A wave of water dolphins circled him playfully whose bodies shimmered like liquid glass. Above them, birds of pure flame fluttered with soft chirps, scattering sparks like tiny stars.

It was peaceful, warm and strangely beautiful untill…

“Ethan, a letter came from the Black Thorns.”

Rina stepped in quietly, handing him a sealed envelope. Her eyes drifted to the water dolphins and flame birds and she let out a slow breath, impressed.

Ethan twitched slightly, trying to keep the creatures stable.

Rina still did not know that Ethan had childish sides like this. Instead of researching high-offense spells or improving firepower, he spent half his time creating harmless summoning illusions, calming children and charming random audiences.

Rina watched him for a moment then asked, her tone curious and calm.”So what’s going on?”

Ethan opened the letter, scanned it once and sighed lightly.

“Nothing major. It’s just that people raised the issue of rewards that have not been distributed. The court erupted and the King collapsed coughing blood.”

“Ohh. Then that old coot is already running on his last leg.”Rina snorted with no hesitation.

“It’s bound to happen. Promising rise in nobility and other rewards yet not giving any. That will cause problems. Also he is foolishly sticking to his seat when he should already announce the next heir.”She spoke with a cold, direct tone, folding her arms as she watched Ethan think.

Ethan closed his eyes for a moment, letting the birds of flame dissolve into mist.

Only the soft splash of water dolphins remained.”What’s his current age?”

“He might be 98 and reaching around 99.”

99 was not a big age for warriors or mages. Those with strong bodies, especially Master rank or above, could live well past a 150. But for someone who did not reach that realm, 99 was close to the end.

However Ethan frowned slightly.

“Since he is at an advanced stage, he shouldn’t be that frail and brittle.”

He turned to Rina.

“Maybe he relied too much on potions. There is always a difference between someone who gains power by himself and someone who relies on other means.”Rina replied without hesitation.

“….”