The Heavenly Martial Empress Returns Chapter 276: Let's Have A Duel

Listen While Reading: Calculated Prowess
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“HAHAHAHAHA! YOU’RE A FUNNY ONE! WE GREAT DEMON KINGS ARE ANCHORED TO HELL! WE ARE BOTH ITS PILLARS AND ITS PRISONERS! AND YOU’RE SAYING I DESCEND THERE MYSELF?! YOU’RE FUCKING STUPID OR SOMETHING?! HAHAHAHAHA!”

“I see! That’s good to hear, Sir Belphegor,” Bing Xue smiled. “Now, I have a proposal for you.”

“HMMM?”

Belphegor smiled, glaring at Bing Xue.

“I came here to kill you… Thanks to that stupid man, whose soul was delicious, by the way, I was able to come here through the cracks and glitches you left in the Game Matrix by shattering it… Honestly, if it wasn’t for your intervention, I could have even come here and taken upon a new vessel… A strong one at that. But you’re saying that you have a proposal? What is it?”

“You like games, don’t you? Let’s play a game. The victor will take back what was taken from them.” Bing Xue said, as her family and friends didn’t understand what she was talking about.

“HMMM? ELABORATE.”

Belphegor raised an eyebrow.

She knew he could easily destroy the cores of Ra and Khnum if he wanted; she had to play along with the Demon and his Rules and Games.

“Let’s play… one of your card games. The two of us will receive a random deck of cards, alright?” Bing Xue asked. “If I win, you will give back the robots that compose your body, Ra and Khnum to me. If I lose, you will get my soul.”

“HOH… SO THAT’S WHAT YOU WANT!”

Belphegor laughed as he showed Bing Xue the two spheres of the Mechanical Gods; their Divine Souls, unique to themselves, could not be revived or replicated if they died.

“B-Bing Xue…”

Merneith was moved by her words, crying several tears.

“You would go so far for Ra?”

Bing Xue smiled back at the cute Egyptian Princess. Her eyes were full of determination.

“Don’t worry, Merneith. I’ll get Ra back for you.”

“Hmmm… You seem to have immense, boundless power! Indeed! A soul of your caliber would be an incredibly delicious delicacy like no other! I WANT YOUR SOUL… HEHEH… FINE! LET’S PLAY MY GAME.”

RUMBLE!

Belphegor spread out his arms as Belze panicked, seeing Bing Xue enter such a dangerous gamble with someone that governed a Layer of Hell, a gigantic Multiversal Dimension that extended across many Universes and Worlds!

“Bing Xue! W-What are you doing?!”

Belze rushed toward her; as the only truly immune to the demonic energies, she latched onto Bing Xue, trying to drag her back.

“You don’t even know his game! What are you trying to do?! You’ll die and your soul…! I cannot afford to lose another master, not you!”

Bing Xue’s eyes widened lightly as she noticed Belze crying before her, hugging her from behind.

“Please don’t do it! Don’t gamble your soul, my master!”

“…”

TRUUUM!

The entire ruins around them were twisted into an endless spiral; everyone watched in awe as giant spires emerged, infernal bubbling lakes of lava, flowing magma falls, and demons made of flames laughing and jumping everywhere.

In this twisted domain, Belphegor sat over a giant throne of bones, stone, flames, and demonic souls agonizing and screaming. Beneath his foot was the soul of Djet, crying in horror.

“Uuuaaaggh! W-What’s going on?! Where am I?! AAAAIIIEEEEHHH!”

“Shut up!”

BAAAM!

“Ugh…!”

Djet was kicked by Belphegor, as he suddenly went mute, becoming a warmer for the demon’s foot and nothing else.

“Now that my throne has been summoned, and things have become a bit more… warmer. We can begin! Hell, I even brought my own crowd of Demon Souls! Don’t worry… they’re only here to watch! Now come, stand right in that pentagram, so our Game of Cards can begin!”

“Bing Xue!”

Belze tried to stop her, but Bing Xue walked towards the Pentagram.

“Beelzebub, if you’re so eager to die with your master, I’ll allow you to be by her side! Maybe you can help her out with this game? I am not going to explain shit to her! HAHAHAHA!”

Belphegor felt benevolent today, allowing Belze to be by Bing Xue’s side.

“T-That’s…”

Bing Xue smiled at Belze, nodding.

“I’m counting on you, Belze.”

“But… you’re just insane! Are you really gambling with your soul for that robot?! You’re obviously more valuable! This doesn’t make any sense, Bing Xue! You don’t usually make such stupid decisions! What’s gotten into you?”

“Stupid decisions? There’s nothing stupid about trying to save a friend… Or the friend of a friend. Ra is an important friend for Merneith; he is her partner, her family, her brother. I could never bear to see her beautiful, adorable face crying if he died.”

“B-Bing Xue… Sniff…”

Merneith was so moved by Bing Xue’s words that she couldn’t help but blush as she cried; nobody had gone to such lengths for you other than her.

She felt her heart beating faster and faster. Was there someone that could ever earn her heart other than her now?

“Please… win!”

As Merneith cried, Bing Xue nodded as she faced Belphegor, with Belze behind her, sitting above the empty air.

“I will.”

FLUOSH!

Suddenly, flame-like walls materialized, separating the entire area from the rest, although they quickly turned invisible so they could watch.

“How moving! I almost shed a crocodile tear after watching that, hahahaha! Why are you exactly so confident? This is a traditional game; there’s no battle outside of cards!”

“I know.”

“So confident… Perhaps you’re simply a fool? One of those righteous idiots that think that just with courage, they can do anything! Don’t make me laugh!”

“I wouldn’t say that’s the reason behind my confidence, but great king of hell, you can think anything you want. The fact is that I will win no matter what.”

“Tch…! Heh…! I can’t wait to see your face full of despair! OOOHH! HOW I WILL ENJOY THAT! AND THEN, NOM, NOM! ALL MINE!”

Belphegor waved his hand, and suddenly, two decks of blazing cards materialized.

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