[B3]Chapter 198: Princess and the Farmer Boy

Sitting at its center was a woman, her strawberry-colored hair cascading over her shoulders. Her closed eyes fluttered open, and her gaze immediately locked onto Theo’s.

Her lips curved into a gentle smile as the golden petals surrounding her disintegrated, their essence absorbed into her being. Her aura radiated with a soothing warmth as translucent wings shimmered into existence behind her. They fluttered delicately, lifting her into the air.

As she soared toward Theo, her form began to shrink, gradually diminishing with each passing second. By the time she reached him, she was no larger than a clenched fist.

Hovering briefly before him, she studied him with quiet affection before settling gracefully on his shoulder as if it were her rightful place.

Her tiny hands gripped his collar for balance, and she leaned slightly closer. “You’ve been very unfair to me…” the small figure on his shoulder grumbled.

Theo cast her a sidelong glance, his tone genuinely baffled by the accusation. “When was I ever unfair?”

She huffed, crossing her tiny arms as her translucent wings fluttered slightly. “When you didn’t even bother to give me a name! Big sis Lilith had to remind you,” she complained, her voice growing grumpier.

Theo blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected grievance. She’s still holding that grudge? He couldn’t help but wonder how Bloom, now evolved into a Mythic Grade beast, could remember something so trivial.

For a moment, he entertained the thought that she might start bickering or even fighting him again, bringing more chaos to the battlefield, but her relaxed demeanor as she perched peacefully on his shoulder eased his concern.

She’s bound to me as my guardian beast… no matter how much she complains, she won’t revolt, he mused silently.

As Theo didn’t answer her question, Bloom changed the subject, her shimmering eyes darting around the battlefield. The fiery glares of the enemies around them didn’t escape her notice.

“Do you want me to take care of this demon army, or are you planning to fight them yourself?” she asked playfully, as if the enemy forces were nothing more than a toy for her.

Theo was surprised at her confidence; even he didn’t know the extent of his strength without testing it firsthand in battle. Since she offered to handle it, he decided to go with it.

“You can go first,” Theo offered.

Bloom nodded, raising her delicate hand.

A faint tremor ran through the ground, growing stronger until the battlefield quaked. From the earth, thick stems began to rise, shooting upward with relentless force. They grew taller and wider, their surfaces glistening with vibrant colors, until they unfurled into gigantic flowers, each spanning twenty to thirty meters in size.

The petals were vivid and imposing, but it was the leaves that drew every eye. They were shaped like maws, jagged and sharp, slithering like serpents through the air. Surrounding the flowers, countless vines swayed and danced, brimming with predatory intent.

The number of these flowers continued to multiply, sprouting across various parts of the battlefield. Within moments, the land was covered with these towering monstrosities, their presence turning the tide of the battle.

On the other side of the field, Malachor’s crimson gaze narrowed. He gestured silently to the high-ranking demons surrounding him.

At his command, their figures launched into the air, scattering across the battlefield. Some moved toward the newly risen flowers, while others headed in Theo and Bloom’s direction.

But before the Monarch Demons and their high-ranked allies could even reach the flowers, the towering blooms began their hunt.

The leaves expanded, stretching unnaturally, before striking like snakes at the smaller demons below. Entire groups of enemies were swallowed whole, their shrieks cut short as the leaves closed around them with a sickening crunch. Those who tried to flee were ensnared by the vines, dragged screaming into the gaping maws of the flowers.

Malachor’s elites pressed on, determined to destroy these monstrosities. But as they neared the flowers, a rain of vibrant petals descended from above. The petals weren’t just beautiful—they were deadly. Each one glowed with energy and sliced through the air like a blade, forcing the advancing demons to retreat in frustration.

Theo watched the battle unfold in silence. These demons were as powerful—if not more so—than the Monarch Demon who had nearly killed him with relentless, near-unhealable blade attacks.

But now, the battlefield had shifted. The very skill that had almost taken his life—the menacing rain of blades—was being turned against them, this time in the form of razor-sharp flower petals.

It had become a one-sided massacre. The demons had no opportunity to strike back, their forces thrown into chaos under the relentless assault of the flowers. Even the previously summoned demonic crops began merging with the flowers, as if the flowers had reclaimed them.

The high-ranked demons finally launched coordinated attacks, hurling elemental spells and devastating strikes at the gigantic blooms.

Explosions rippled across the stems and leaves, causing visible damage. But their efforts were in vain. The flowers healed almost instantly, the vines and leaves regenerating before their eyes.

The demons gritted their teeth in frustration as they witnessed even the formidable Twin Hellhound being ensnared by the thick, relentless vines. The petals slashed across its massive form, tearing through its flesh with ease.

The beast thrashed wildly, its growls reverberating through the battlefield, but no amount of struggling freed it from Bloom’s clutches. Wounds littered its body, dark ichor dripping to the ground.

These enemies are no match for me and Bloom after we absorbed all the accumulated ring essence and life essence. The sooner I’m done with this battle, the sooner I can go back to Meema.

With that thought, Theo’s figure turned into a blur as he shot toward Malachor.

The Vice Demon Lord’s eyes flickered with surprise for a fraction of a second, but then his lips curled into a smirk of amusement. “Coming for me directly? Foolish!”

As the words left Malachor’s mouth, a veil of darkness began to unfurl around him, spreading like an inky tide.

Theo stopped forty meters away just in time. Yet, the dark veil expanded further, creeping toward him, swallowing everything in its path.

Before long, Theo was trapped within a massive sphere of shifting shadows. The outside world remained faintly visible, distorted as if seen through a thick fog. Inside the veil, Theo couldn’t sense Lily or Bloom’s presence. It was as though their connections had been severed entirely.

The air grew oppressive. His skin tingled with a burning sensation, as if invisible flames were licking at him. Beneath his feet, the ground writhed unnaturally, tendrils of darkness slithering toward him, seeking to ensnare.

He turned his attention to the other demons within the sphere of darkness. Their screams of agony pierced the heavy silence as dark fire consumed their forms, burning them from the inside out. It was no ordinary flame—it devoured their essence, reducing them to empty husks.

Theo’s eyes narrowed as he observed the fire creeping toward him. He felt its malicious intent, its relentless hunger trying to subdue him, attempting to wrap him in the same flames.

Malachor’s amused voice echoed through the oppressive darkness. “Welcome to my domain. None who enter leave unscathed.”

Theo’s expression remained calm. The flames licked at his figure, but as they touched him, they dissipated, leaving him unharmed. The oppressive heat failed to burn him, and the darkness seemed to recoil from his presence.

Malachor’s smirk faltered slightly. What trick is this? No one stands unaffected in my domain... It doesn’t matter. He is still beneath me. He cannot win here unless he is far beyond my level.

Theo’s gaze glinted with a hint of curiosity as he assessed the situation. The darkness, the flames, the slithering ground—it all felt like an oppressive illusion meant to crush his resolve.

A flicker of movement behind him caught Theo’s attention. A sharp blade lunged for his back. The attack was swift, but the blade halted the moment it reached the surface of Theo’s skin.

Theo turned casually, his tranquil eyes locking onto Malachor, who now stood behind him with his sword in hand.

The Vice Demon Lord’s face twisted in confusion as he stared at Theo, his sword frozen mid-swing. The high-grade blade, capable of cleaving through steel, hadn’t so much as scratched the boy’s skin. Moreover, the boy wasn’t even fazed. No reaction of fear, no sign of weakness—only that same, unyielding calm.

“What are you?” Malachor hissed.

Without waiting for a response, the Vice Demon Lord launched a punch aimed at Theo’s jaw, his fist engulfed with dark flame.

Theo’s body shifted just in time, the punch grazing past him as he countered with his own strike, a devastating blow to Malachor’s midsection.

Malachor reeled back, stumbling from the force of the hit. Angered, he shot forward again, his leg sweeping in a powerful kick aimed at Theo’s chest.

Theo sidestepped, grabbing Malachor’s leg mid-swing with a tight grip. Then, he slammed the opponent into the ground like a ragdoll.

BAAAAM!

The impact shook, cracks webbing through the ground beneath Malachor’s crumpled form. His head hit the earth with a sickening thud, dark blood spurting from his broken nose.

The pain was immense, searing through his senses, but Malachor didn’t waste any time on it. With a grimace, his figure flickered and reappeared several meters away.

Theo turned to face him. The wound on Malachor’s face had already vanished, his broken nose mended as though it had never been injured. His domain was working tirelessly to restore him, granting him near-instantaneous regeneration.

Theo’s eyes witnessed the rapid healing, noting the advantage it gave his opponent. This will drag on if I don’t end it soon, he mused silently.

Their figures collided again, faster and harder than before. The sound of fists meeting flesh and shockwaves from their movements echoed in the air.

Malachor gritted his teeth. Despite his advantage of near-immortality within the domain, he couldn’t land a single meaningful blow on Theo. Worse, the boy’s strikes were relentless, and every punch or kick came stronger than the last.

The battle dragged on, but it was increasingly one-sided. Theo’s movements grew sharper, his strikes more powerful. His body adjusted to his newly acquired strength, and his attacks became more accurate with each hit, exploiting the patterns in Malachor’s movements.

The Vice Demon Lord found himself unable to keep up, his composure cracking as his body was beaten down repeatedly.

“Why… won’t… you… fall?!” Malachor yelled, as he lunged forward again.

Theo sidestepped the attack effortlessly, countering with a kick that sent Malachor sprawling across the ground. The demon scrambled to his feet, only to meet a flurry of strikes.

Malachor’s fists ignited with dark flames as he rushed at Theo with a roar. But Theo was ready. Infusing his palm with abyssal energy, he moved faster than Malachor could react.

With a swift motion, Theo’s hand sliced through Malachor’s neck like a blade. His palm infused with abyssal energy severed the Vice Demon Lord’s head clean from his body.

Thud!

The head hit the ground, rolling to a stop as Malachor’s lifeless body crumpled in a pool of dark blood. The veil of darkness surrounding them began to dissipate, fading into thin wisps.

Theo stood there, his cold gaze fixed on the fallen body of the Vice Demon Lord.

Across the battlefield, the demons who were retaliating against the gigantic flowers froze in place, their gazes drawn to the clearing veil of darkness.

As they saw Malachor’s lifeless form sprawled on the ground, a wave of panic surged through them. At that moment, the demon army’s morale completely shattered.

Whispers of disbelief spread like wildfire. “The Vice Demon Lord… is dead…”

Linwe’s jaw hung open in shock. Even Emma stared in stunned silence. Nobody had expected the tide of the battle to shift so drastically, nor had they believed Theo capable of defeating the second most powerful demon so quickly.

Theo extended his hand toward the lifeless body of the Vice Demon Lord and cast his newly acquired skill, [Bloom of the Fallen].

Crimson flames ignited, engulfing the corpse in a fiery embrace. Smoke curled upward as the flames consumed the body, leaving behind nothing but fine ash.

<<<<

[You have harvested a Soul Seed from the fallen.]

>>>>

As the system notification faded, a thumb-sized dark orb hovered in Theo’s palm. He examined the seed for a brief moment before storing it within his Golden Vault.

The sound of soft footsteps drew his attention. Without needing to turn, Theo knew who it was.

“You made that look easy,” Lily’s warm voice echoed behind him.

Theo turned to face her. “Were you hoping to see me struggle? Or maybe take a hit or two?”

Lily’s scarlet eyes gleamed with mischief. “Not exactly. But wouldn’t it have been more satisfying to see a heroine swoop in to save her prince charming at the last moment?”

Theo scoffed, shaking his head. “Not in the slightest.”

Lily stepped closer, gently brushing the dust off his cheek. Her demeanor shifted effortlessly between playful mischief and serene grace, reminding Theo of both Liliana’s quiet maturity and the demoness’s untamed charm. It was a balance he was slowly beginning to embrace.

Around them, Bloom continued its rampage, finishing off the last remnants of the demon army. Canorians and Emma stood in the distance, their gazes fixed on the duo as if witnessing a scene plucked from a fairy tale.

Lily’s expression softened, her voice grew quieter. “What’s your plan from here, Theo?”

Theo’s gaze drifted toward the horizon. “I don’t want to be entangled in kingdom politics, Eastwind’s business ventures, or any other distractions. My focus needs to be on growing stronger. If I do that, I’ll get back to Mother sooner,” he said, his voice carrying a deep yearning.

Lily replied gently. “Then leave all of that to me.”

Theo frowned slightly, tilting his head. “Don’t you have enough on your plate? Like claiming the crown and dealing with your so-called brothers? Or should I say cousins?”

Lily shook her head. “Lex only pretends to be my adversary to keep appearances. If the world knew we were on the same side, things would get complicated. Besides…” Her voice softened as she stepped closer, her tone turning affectionate. “Nothing is more important to this princess than her farmer boy.”

Theo rubbed his jaw, raising an eyebrow. “Then I suppose I should thank Her Highness for her magnanimity?”

Lily stepped even closer, a mischievous smile curling on her lips. “Yes. But if you’re going to thank me, you’d better do it properly.”

Theo’s hand moved faster than she could react, flicking her forehead with a quick snap.

“Ow!” Lily grimaced, clutching her forehead.

Without waiting for her retort, Theo had already turned and was walking toward the protective dome where the Canorians were sheltered.

Lily rubbed her forehead, watching his retreating figure. “You’re not getting away with this. No matter how far you go, I’ll make sure you thank me properly, Farmer Boy!” she called after him, with half a playful threat and half a promise.

Theo’s lips curved into a soft smile at her words, though he didn’t look back. The battle had been a grueling one, but for the first time in a long while, he felt a strange sense of peace. With Lily by his side, the path ahead no longer seemed so daunting.

Wait for me, Mother. I’ll be with you soon.

***

[SnowNote]

This concludes Book Three! 🎉

If you have any feedback or think there are areas that could be improved or fixed, please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.

November has been packed with longer chapters, and in the coming days, I’ll be focusing on the publishing process for Book Three. You can expect the first chapter of Book Four to be released during the first week of next month. Stay tuned for the next phase of Theo's journey—exciting things are ahead!

Thank you for your continuous support!