Monarch of Darkness

The gentle rays of morning sun entered through window and Evan woke up from his meditation. His gaze shifted to the bed where Olivia was sleeping peacefully. A smile appeared on his face and he left after blocking the window with a cover.

He stepped out of the palace and walked towards the river bank. Along the path, he saw very less Sylvia clansmen. The crowded place seemed lot quieter as a result. He reached river bank and there he found many of his previous playmates. But what gave him a surprise was the fact that those children were not playing on the river bank instead they were practicing some forms of martial arts. He smiled at them when they looked toward him.

"Evan, come here and practice with us", a slim looking girl named Meena shouted. All of the children looked at him with expectation. They didn't know whether Evan had changed. For them, Evan was still that child who loved to fool around with them. Evan chuckled and went forward to greet them.

"What are you guys doing?", Evan asked them. We are practicing the "Five techniques of golden Ape". Evan recalled this technique which he had read in Sylvia clan library. It was a technique taught to every Sylvia clan children. When trained for a sufficient time, it could build a good foundation for the practitioner. It was a very precious body refining technique for Sylvia clan as there was a shortage of body refining techniques in entire Northpeak empire but for Evan such simple techniques didn't value much. He looked around and found a Sylvia clan warrior who was clad in silver armour in a distance. Evan remembered him as he was one of the guard assigned to protect the palace of his aunt Brianna.

He left toward the distant warrior after talking to the group of his playmates. The warrior who was standing silently, greeted Evan after noticing him. "Little prince, where were you in these past two years?", he asked him curiously. This was a question which everyone of Sylvia clan wanted to ask Evan. As I have already said, I was cultivating in wild in these past two years", Evan responded. The warrior infront of him chuckled but didn't ask again. For him, this seemed an excuse as even a fool would not believe in Evan's words. After all, how a eight year old child could survive in the dangerous Redwood forest! 

Evan knew no-one would believe him but he didn't care. He was only stating the truth although the truth was a little bit distorted. "Can you tell me about the overall situation of war?", Evan asked. He didn't asked the guards who were infront of his palace because he knew Sylvia clan chief Lucas must have instructed them to not tell him anything.

The Sylvia clan warrior hesitated a bit but he still gave a brief summary of current war situation. The situation of war was a common knowledge among the soldiers of Thousand swords kingdom. So, he didn't hesitate much and explained the war situation to Evan.

Evan frowned slightly after learning the situation. The war was still progressing like game of 'cat and mouse' but Evan knew the equilibrium would be broken one day. The Golden orb kingdom was still acting cautious and probing the power of Thousand swords kingdom. Moreover by sealing the border of Thousand swords kingdom, it was intending to lower the morale of people of Thousand swords kingdom and cut any chance of external aid. Evan felt confused over one thing though, he didn't understand why the Golden orb kingdom was actually acting so cautious when it was clearly superior in terms of overall power. Many thoughts appeared in the mind of Evan but he could not verify any of his own thoughts. So, he put all these thoughts to back of his mind for time being.

Evan bade farewell to everyone and returned to his palace. He accompanied his mother for another three days. In this period, he didn't cultivate much. He considered this period as a break but he still kept his mind open to analyze the overall situation.

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The day time of fourth day passed as usual. The warriors of Sylvia clan still had not returned and even clan chief Lucas could not be seen in these few days. The long day passed silently and soon the night sky got crowded with twinkling stars.

Evan bade farewell to his mother after having his dinner with her. These days Olivia was extremely happy. After suffering for two years, she again managed to see his son. So, of course she was feeling very happy. Her health was getting better by each passing day and there was a smile plastered on her lips every time anyone saw her.

Evan sat cross-legged and absorbed the darkness energy for a while. After two hour, he opened his eyes and a invisible aura appeared out of his body. If any cultivator at the Meridian opening realm had to present here at the moment, then he or she would have trembled in fear. Slaughter energy was like a sinister aura which chilled the heart of opponents. Of course it only applied to cultivator with same strength or lower. It could not affect the higher realm cultivators but they could feel this invisible aura natural to every devils.

A dark glint appeared in the eyes of Evan and he stood up. Window was opened up and he easily evaded the Sylvia clan guards. He dashed forward using 'Shadow ghost dance' and his figure soon disappeared in the shadow of White Orchid forest.

Evan gave a command through his soul sense and a big figure appeared near him. A grin appeared on the face of Evan after seeing the big creature infront of him. It was a fierce tiger with purple patches all over its body. Evan managed to tame this purple striped thunder tiger when he was rushing to the Sylvia clan. It was a early stage Profound transformation realm magical beast. So, Evan managed to tame it using his soul.

The purple striped thunder tiger moved rapidly in the outskirt of forest and Evan commanded the tiger to stop open reaching a place. He spread his soul consciousness and search for a moment and soon some pitch black creatures popped their head from ground. This was the group of Shadow rats whom Evan brought out from Redwood forest. They were still following him because Evan kept them with him after witnessing their scouting ability. There were a lack of Shadow rats in the Northern mountain range. So, Evan decided to keep them with him. 

The purple striped thunder tiger dashed forward amidst the blanket of dark night. It's speed was slightly better compared to Evan but travelling on it much convenient as it could maintain its speed naturally. If he was to travel at such dppeed, then he had to use 'Shadow ghost dance' technique every time which was very taxing to his body.

After travelling for two hours in the northwestern direction, Evan managed to locate army camps infront of him. He commanded the leader of Shadow rats to scout and soon he managed to find out the overall situation from the information of Shadow rats.