My queen is rebelling!

Koen's voice resonated with authority, even causing Kulikov, who was usually at odds with him, to put aside his contempt.

Ifero's expression turned solemn, and he said in a deep voice:

“From now on, we will absolutely obey your orders!”

Koen didn't reply, silently continuing to walk forward.

Before long, everyone felt the ground beneath their feet become somewhat soft, leaving a shallow footprint with each step.

The further they went, the colder the surrounding air became, carrying a hint of dampness.

The stars in the sky became fewer and fewer, until only a blood-red star remained to guide them.

Without the twinkling of starlight, the visibility within the valley plummeted, with only a faint red glow barely enough to discern directions.

It seemed extremely eerie.

Everyone became vigilant in unison.

After walking for a while longer, the sound of gurgling water reached everyone's ears, and the humidity in the air increased.

Hearing the sound of water, a trace of gravity flashed across Koen's face.

Suddenly, a voice mixed with a hint of terror came from the female priest, Margaret, behind them:

“You… you look… footprints! Footprints!”

Everyone was already on high alert, and upon hearing Margaret's exclamation, they immediately stopped and looked at the ground they had just walked over.

Several people's footprints were chaotically intertwined, and nothing unusual was found.

Although the footprints were mixed together, it was still possible to tell whose footprints were whose.

Two pairs of petite footprints definitely belonged to the two warlock ladies.

A pair of cloth shoe prints came from the priest, Margaret.

Koen and Ifero both left behind the prints of leather shoes.

Arnold and Kulikov's footprints were the largest and deepest, extremely conspicuous.

Winsader and Asuna both wore exquisite and beautiful leather boots, and the outlines and patterns of the soles were also easy to distinguish.

There was also a pair of shoe prints, leaving behind a relatively square shape with a slight arc in the middle. Whose was this…

No, that’s not right!

How could there be ten pairs of footprints!

There are only nine people here!

Upon realizing this fact, everyone felt their scalps tingle, and no one dared to turn their heads to look back.

Koen couldn't help but think of a classic horror story circulating online in his previous life—

A group of people walking at night, the most terrifying thing is not that the number of people decreases as they walk, but that the number of people increases!

The sound of the water in everyone's ears grew louder and louder, and the red star above their heads became redder and redder.

The entire team's vision was filled with a layer of unsettling blood color.

Winsader couldn't help but feel a chill down his spine, and his Golden-tier aura was already building up.

Koen shook his head slightly, stopping Winsader who wanted to take action, and said calmly:

“Ignore it, speed up and move forward.”

The eldest son of the Duke beside Koen, the noble young master Ifero, had a slightly pale face, like a piece of white paper soaked in water.

The young master, usually pampered with fine clothes and exquisite food, was still somewhat unable to calm down from the sudden and bizarre event.

He tried his best to maintain a calm facade, his voice slightly distorted:

“Mr. Leader, what… what is going on?

Have you encountered similar situations before?”

Koen replied calmly:

“I've heard of them, but this is probably the first time I've encountered one.”

“Then… then the extra footprints are… are they a type of shapeshifting magical beast?”

As he spoke, Ifero glanced at the extra pair of footprints out of the corner of his eye, and found that the footprints were becoming clearer and clearer, and the outlines were actually quietly changing.

Faintly, the patterns on them were actually similar to the sole patterns of the leather shoes he was wearing.

Hearing the increasing panic in Ifero's voice.

Why not tell everyone?”

Kulikov concealed the fear in his eyes and said slowly:

“I've heard of it. The reason I don't recommend following the red star is because, as far as I know, all the adventure teams that headed towards the red star were completely annihilated without exception.

And according to the messages they sent out… these people all died from infighting!”

As soon as these words came out, everyone immediately felt the surrounding air freeze.

Koen continued to ask:

“Do you know why they all died from infighting?”

Ifero beside him had already regained his composure, with a hint of playfulness in his voice:

“Why?”

Koen's lips curled up slightly, and he said:

“It's very simple, because a very despicable little imp shamelessly stole someone else's body!”

As soon as he finished speaking, the dragon seal in Koen's hand flashed, and a dragon-patterned long rope fiercely wrapped around Ifero's body.

Ifero's face suddenly became much more ferocious, and he cursed loudly:

“You are the little imp! You are the little imp, your whole family are little imps!

This king is the powerful Fear Demon King, you lowly mortal, how dare you insult this king!”

Koen mocked and laughed:

“You're already breaking your composure?

If Hades knew that he had such an unpromising descendant, he would definitely run out of the underworld to clean up the family line!”

Hearing Koen's words, an extremely shocked and angry expression appeared on “Ifero's” face.

At this time, everyone had already reacted, realizing that Ifero had been replaced by someone else at some point!

Kulikov, standing to the side, was furious, his body seething with magic power, wanting to attack, but afraid of hurting Ifero's body.

For a moment, he didn't know what to do.

The others were also facing the same predicament.

They didn't know whether the “Ifero” in front of them was someone pretending or whether he had really been controlled.

If they rashly attacked and injured Duke Gavin's eldest son, it would be terrible.

Koen calmly commanded:

“The rest of you maintain your formation, do not act rashly, and be vigilant.

Nephthys, come and help me.”

Nephthys immediately stepped forward, and Koen freed one hand, saying:

“Help me establish a mental connection with Ifero!”

Nephthys didn't hesitate at all, taking Koen's hand, a calm look appearing on her soft and beautiful face.

She closed her eyes slightly, and emitted strange sounds from her mouth.

Soon, a rushed and exasperated voice came from Koen's ears:

“You… who exactly are you? How could you know so much about me?”

Koen smiled faintly:

“I only heard that there was a little ‘Fear Demon’ here, but I didn't expect to actually run into one!

Obediently acknowledge me as your master, and I will spare your life.”

The voice in his ear became angrier and angrier:

“Lowly human, how dare you妄想 enslave the great Fear Demon King, go to hell!”

Suddenly, a darkness appeared before Koen's eyes.

Like thick ink, it enveloped Koen's vision, followed by a blood-red lightning bolt illuminating the entire world.

A huge black shadow slowly emerged, the black shadow tall and majestic, a black robe enveloping it like the night, as if it could devour all light.

The black shadow wore a wide hood, obscuring its face.

Under the hood, eyes burning with a ghostly green flame revealed endless cruelty and malice, that gaze seemed to be able to pierce through the soul, instantly enveloping people in fear.

A shocking voice boomed:

“Lowly mortal, submit to the feet of the great Fear Demon King!”

Then, with a slight movement, the black-robed man unleashed a powerful force, and wherever this force reached, everything withered and life perished.

Koen just quietly watched as this unstoppable force swept towards him, without moving at all.

Boom!

Nothing happened.

The illusion in front of me disappeared, replaced by a bizarre creature, short in stature, probably only half the height of a human child.

The bizarre creature had rough, dark red skin, as if it had been scorched by intense fire.

Its entire body was covered in tiny bumps and wrinkles.

Its head was remarkably large, vaguely triangular in shape, with a pair of curved, short horns growing from the top.

Its eyes were brownish-yellow, flickering with fear and panic.

Cohen clicked his tongue twice, a half-smile on his face:

"Look, didn't I tell you? If you went out looking like that, they'd all mistake you for a Lesser Demon."

The already red face of the strange creature became even more crimson, as if it were about to spew flames, and it shouted angrily:

"Insignificant human, I... I will kill you!"

Suddenly, Cohen emitted a low, rumbling voice that exploded in the strange creature's ears:

"'Fear Demon' Er-ying · Akdimon · Hadesmirros.

I, by the decree of Article Seven of the 'God-Demon Charter'—any demon who loses their true name shall be enslaved by the children of the gods!

Demand that you immediately submit to me, the son of the gods, the king of the human kingdom of Effiein, Cohen · Corleone!"

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The Corleone surname is even older than the history of Effiein, dating back to the Age of Gods, so Cohen could claim to be a descendant of human gods.

Or rather, the reason the Corleone family was able to establish Effiein was greatly related to the trace of divine blood contained within the family.

In the kingdoms on the continent with more than a thousand years of history, their royal families more or less contained the blood of human gods.

The divine right of kings is not just a saying.

Cohen's voice seemed to carry a trace of magic, and for a moment, a trace of confusion appeared in the strange creature's eyes.

Immediately afterward, his face was filled with horror, and he said tremblingly:

"You... you actually know my true name... No, don't, don't enslave me... Don't..."

As Cohen uttered ancient, low-pitched syllables, a huge rune slowly floated above the strange creature's forehead.

The rune emitted a dazzling light, and the strange creature's screams rose and fell.

Finally, the light dissipated, and the strange creature no longer possessed its previous arrogance and wildness.

Its eyes were filled with humility and fear.

It clearly understood that its life and death were now at the mercy of the other party.

Being able to survive in the "Starfall Valley" for so long with less than Silver-rank strength.

Akdimon had an extremely outstanding ability to observe words and expressions.

Cohen smiled faintly:

"Akdimon, work hard for me, and maybe you'll have a chance to regain your freedom."

A 'Fear Demon' who could invade people's minds and control others silently, Cohen felt it was time to find a partner for his ace agent, Comrade 'Deep Sea'!

The 'Fear Demon' Akdimon showed a flattering smile on his face:

"Great Master Corleone, your humble servant Akdimon will obey all your commands."

Cohen smiled meaningfully:

"Don't think about slacking off. Work hard, and maybe you'll have a chance to go to the Underworld and kick your bastard father's butt in the future."

The "Fear Demon" Akdimon was one of the many illegitimate children of the God of the Underworld, Hades.

Well, he was the offspring of Hades and a female Lesser Demon's one-night stand.

Cohen deeply admired Lord Hades' unique and indiscriminate taste, which was simply comparable to the people of a certain degree in his previous life.

Unlike other illegitimate children, Akdimon did inherit a portion of Hades' power—the power of fear.

He could use the fear in people's hearts to enslave them.

That was how Ipherio was tricked just now.

Akdimon's eyes flashed, and his voice became even more humble:

"Great Master Corleone, from now on, you are my dear father. That promiscuous bastard Hades doesn't deserve to be my father."

Cohen spat repeatedly.

If the Queen knew that she had a demon son, he probably wouldn't even be able to get on her bed.

He said angrily:

"Bastard, what nonsense are you talking about? Get out of this king's sight immediately.

I have powerful transcendents around me, so don't follow me. In three days, go to Florence and wait for me!"

"Yes, great master, I will definitely arrive on time!"

After sending Akdimon away, Cohen slowly opened his eyes and found everyone staring at him.

Windsor had a hint of doubt in her eyes.

Cohen said:

"The matter has been resolved, and Ipherio will wake up soon."

Before long, Ipherio slowly woke up, with a hint of confusion still in his eyes.

Cohen signaled everyone to continue moving forward, and he began to explain what had just happened:

"What attacked us earlier was a 'Fear Demon'.

His strength is very weak, only at the third rank.

However, he can control a portion of the power of fear.

You can think of him as a devotee of the God of Fear and Death, the Lord of the Underworld, Hades.

He can use the power of fear in people's hearts to erode their minds, eventually replacing their souls.

Fear Demons have a natural ability to walk in a soul state.

The footprints we saw earlier were deliberately created by the 'Fear Demon'.

His purpose was to stimulate the fear in people's hearts.

Ipherio was unfortunately tricked, and his soul was then hooked out by the power of fear, which is why the later footprints were the same as Ipherio's.

That's because you were the one walking later.

Your soul was replaced by the Fear Demon!"

After Cohen's explanation, everyone suddenly understood.

Ipherio gave Cohen a grateful look, his heart still twitching uncontrollably.

This "Starfall Valley" is too dangerous.

He had just entered, and he had already walked through the gates of hell.

It was too scary.

Fear Demons, such creatures had never been heard of before.

Cohen also secretly smiled, he didn't expect that among so many people, the one with the weakest willpower was actually Ipherio.

He originally thought that Freya or Nephthys would be the first to be unable to withstand it.

Windsor suddenly asked:

"Then... where is that Fear Demon?"

Cohen's expression remained unchanged, and he replied frankly:

"He ran away, it's difficult to catch him in a soul state."

Windsor didn't think Cohen was lying, so she didn't delve further.

Cohen blinked, I didn't say anything wrong, Akdimon did leave, but it's not like he's not coming back.

After this disturbance, everyone couldn't help but trust Cohen even more.

Ipherio even stuck close to Cohen, wishing he could just carry Cohen as he walked.

The group continued to move forward, and soon, the sound of a babbling stream grew closer and closer.

After bypassing a huge rock, a clear stream came into view.

The stream water crashed against the rocks, splashing white foam.

Seeing the clear stream, all the ladies cheered a little.

The previous disturbance had made several people break out in cold sweat, although transcendents could easily evaporate the sweat.

But women always have mental obstacles, and they always feel that it's better to wash with water.

Even Windsor was no exception, her beautiful eyes staring at Cohen without blinking, the meaning was obvious.

Please, Mr. Captain, give the order, the men should leave, and the ladies are preparing to wash up.

Asuna, Nephthys, Freya, and Margaret also showed signs of interest.

Cohen's lips curled slightly:

"If you don't want your beautiful faces to be cursed by the 'Calamity Water'.

I suggest you endure it!"