"Dolores?"
The Emperor struggled to open his blurred eyes and looked at Dolores, managing to force out the words.
In reality, the Emperor was only a little over fifty years old, and as he was also a martial artist, his physique at this age, while not as robust as in his youth, should not have deteriorated to such an extent.
When Dolores left the imperial palace a few months ago, the Emperor was still robust and healthy, looking as if he could reign for another ten or twenty years without issue.
If that were not the case, Dolores would not have felt at ease leaving the palace.
Which heir would leave the imperial palace when the Emperor was on the verge of death? It was impossible to do so, whether from a political or emotional perspective.
How had the Emperor suddenly become like this?!
As if he had aged decades in an instant!
"Father Emperor, it's me. I will lead the Valen Empire to stand proudly on the world stage forever!"
Dolores stared directly at the Emperor, speaking each word deliberately.
"Dolores?"
The Emperor continued to murmur this single sentence.
"Father Emperor? Are you alright? Can you hear me?"
Dolores's expression changed. She quickly stepped forward, supported her father's arm, and asked with concern.
"Dolores?"
The Emperor turned his face, his eyes turbid as he looked at Dolores, his mouth trembling slightly as he opened it a little.
"Father Emperor, do you have something you want to tell me?"
Dolores leaned her head forward, wanting to know what her father wanted to say, why he kept repeating her name.
"Dolores... *cough cough*... uh..."
Dolores suddenly caught a whiff of a corpse's stench, followed by the terrifying wail of a Soul-Lost.
"Father Emperor?!"
Dolores turned her head, and indeed, the Emperor had transformed into a Soul-Lost. His eyes rolled back, his mouth agape as he lunged to bite her face.
"What's going on?"
Dolores shoved the Emperor back violently and retreated rapidly.
"Dolores... *cough cough*..."
The Emperor staggered back a few steps, then his body began to rapidly swell.
Soon, his strong muscles tore through his clothes, and grotesque fleshy tumors sprouted in clusters from the sides of his head, disgusting and terrifying.
A colossal Soul-Lost, five to six meters tall, with a casual swipe of its massive claws, crushed the nearby palace maids into a bloody pulp.
"Roar!"
He let out a terrifying roar!
"What is happening? His Majesty the Emperor has been infected and turned into a Soul-Lost?!"
"Dolores went to that place where a new type of Soul-Lost outbreak occurred. Could it be that all of this is related to her?!"
"Damn it, Dolores has gone mad for the throne, actually killing her own father!"
"To use such a cruel method, it truly brings shame to the Empire."
"She is unfit to be the successor to the Empire; only the Second Prince is the legitimate heir."
The ministers and nobles, who had originally been intimidated by Dolores's martial prowess, immediately roared in anger upon seeing the Emperor transformed into a Soul-Lost.
Some even began to charge at the Imperial Guards' defensive line.
"You killed Father King, I will avenge him!"
The Second Prince also instantly lost his composure. A golden longsword materialized in his hand, and he thrust it towards Dolores's chest.
"It wasn't me, brother. I am your sister. This is our Father Emperor. I would never do such a thing!"
Dolores was also flustered, not knowing how the situation had escalated to this point.
Fighting the Second Prince while flustered, her left arm was cut open with a large gash after only a few rounds, blood flowing freely.
"You killed Father Emperor, I will kill you to avenge Father Emperor!"
The Second Prince, brandishing his sword, charged at Dolores without any regard for technique.
"Listen to me, calm down. There must be a misunderstanding!"
Dolores did not want to fight the Second Prince.
Based on all the signs, he seemed to be merely being manipulated.
Moreover, the relationship between the siblings had always been good. Her brother had not obstructed her return to inherit the throne; it was only after their father's death that he had become enraged.
Dolores did not wish to bring about the ruin of their family, so she held back her attacks, but her opponent fought with his life, aiming every blow at her vital points.
After fighting for another ten-odd rounds, Dolores was stabbed in the thigh again, losing her balance.
Suddenly, the Second Prince's speed surged. His longsword transformed into countless illusory afterimages, thrusting towards Dolores's neck!
"This isn't brother's move. Who are you?!"
Dolores blocked reluctantly, fighting and retreating. Her opponent's sword techniques were sharp and fierce, pressing her to the point where she could barely breathe.
"When you're dead, ask your Father Emperor!"
The Second Prince suddenly let out a sinister chuckle. He lightly placed his palm on Dolores's chest, and at the same time, a beam of light instantly exploded...