Damn, I Have to Marry the Strongest Antagonist at the Start?

Chapter 456: Chapter452-A Grand Spectacle



Under Elena's watchful gaze, the Snow Lotus Empire's protective shield-powered by countless elite mages-rose like an indomitable mountain, radiating an aura of unyielding strength.

Yet, the moment it came into contact with the dark figure, it was effortlessly sliced apart, as if by a razor-sharp blade.

The mages maintaining the formation immediately coughed blood and fell unconscious, suffering devastating backlash that left them incapacitated in mere moments.

The sheer pressure emanating from the dark figure sent shivers down the spines of the empire's finest mages, their faces pale with shock.

This was a defensive formation designed to withstand the attacks of a Throne Celestial, yet it had been obliterated in an instant.

"This... could it be an ancient god? But no ancient god exudes such malevolent energy!"

"Who... who is this being?"

"It must be the Wraith Marshal, Raven! No one else could possess such overwhelming waves of malevolence!"

At the mention of Raven, even the most powerful mages of the empire gasped in fear.

The sheer horror of the Wraith Marshal was etched into their hearts. If their nation's strongest barrier could not withstand even a single strike, then it could only mean one thing: Raven had arrived.

The confirmation of his identity left the Snow Lotus Empire's mages trembling like leaves, their fighting spirit evaporating.

Even Elsa, standing amidst the growing waves of malevolence, couldn't suppress her shock. "It's Raven... it really is Raven!"

Her face paled as she stared at the figure before her.

When news of the Wraith Marshal's revival began to spread, stories of his terrifying power accompanied it. This overwhelming aura could only belong to him.

Steeling herself, Elsa gripped her staff tightly, ready to retaliate.

But before she could act, the aged, withered figure of Raven appeared before her in a flash, his presence suffocating.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

In Elsa's eyes, Raven resembled a monstrous predator, his body entwined with countless malevolent spirits. These wraiths clawed and twisted, as if desperate to escape, their hissing voices filled with venomous resentment.

Her pupils constricted in terror as she instinctively took a step back, her voice trembling as she questioned him:

"What are you doing here?"

Elsa, though exceptionally talented and now a god-marked celestial god, felt as powerless as a lamb before a wolf. The gap in strength between them was insurmountable.

"Elsa, you remind me so much of your mother," Raven said, his deep eyes scanning her intently.

"Not just your appearance but also your expressions, your gestures... they're so alike."

Elsa's face hardened as she realized he seemed to know her mother-and perhaps far too well.

Her suspicions were confirmed as Raven continued,

"You've grown so much. It's been ages since I last saw your mother."

With a movement as swift as a phantom, Raven appeared directly in front of Elsa. He reached

out and grasped her chin with his bony fingers, his gaze filled with a chilling intensity.

Elsa tried to struggle free, but Raven's oppressive aura sealed her mana, leaving her completely immobilized.

"Raven, you've gone too far!"

A cold, furious voice rang out from a distance.

Hearing it, Raven's body stiffened. He turned his head sharply toward the sound.

"Elena!"

The sight of a regal woman in a queen's gown, exuding noble elegance, caused a broad smile

to spread across Raven's aged face. His wrinkles seemed to soften, as if her presence rejuvenated him.

"Elena," he said with genuine warmth.

But Elena's fists were clenched, her eyes cold as she glared at him.

"Seeing me again doesn't make you happy?" Raven asked, his voice tinged with longing as he admired her flawless features.

"You haven't changed at all. You're still as breathtakingly beautiful as ever," he murmured, extending a hand toward her face.

Elena stepped back, putting distance between them.

"You know exactly what you've done to me. I never want to see you again!" she spat, her voice trembling with suppressed rage.

Raven merely chuckled, his tone soft but unwavering.

"All these years, don't you understand? Everything I did was for you. Out of love for you."

Elena's pupils constricted as tears of fury welled up in her eyes. Her voice trembled with bitter

accusation.

"Love?"

"You call killing my father and mother love?"

"Destroying my family and leaving me alone in the world-is that your love?"

"You turned my husband into a puppet-is that your love?"

"You used my children and my kingdom to threaten me—is that your love?"

"I, Elena, do not need your twisted, monstrous love!"

Her anguished cries echoed through the grand hall, her words shaking the very walls.

Elsa stood frozen, shocked beyond belief.

She had never imagined her mother shared such a dark and tragic history with Raven.

But Raven remained unperturbed. He sighed, almost sympathetically, as though Elena's outrage were merely the result of a misunderstanding.

"You once promised to be with me forever," Raven said.

"But you betrayed me. Your family kept us apart, your empire opposed me, and you even bore

another man's child!"

"You gave me hope when you saved me, only to cruelly cast me into the abyss.

"Still, I don't care about any of that. As long as we're together, nothing else matters."

Elena laughed bitterly, her smile laced with profound regret.

Her mind flashed back to that fateful night.

To escape her arranged marriage, she had fled her family, only to stumble upon a wounded

boy battling a spellbeast in the forest.

Even then, the boy was cold and unyielding, like an immovable block of ice.

Despite his grave injuries, he neither cried out in pain nor sought help, enduring in silence like

a lone, wounded beast.

She had saved that boy.

He had looked at her with earnest sincerity, promising to marry her and stay by her side

forever.

At the time, she had thought it a joke-a fleeting whim of a young boy.

She had even admired his talent and demeanor.

But now...

The man standing before her was unrecognizable, his obsessive madness consuming

whatever semblance of humanity he once had.

Her heart was shattered. Every encounter with him reopened her wounds, bleeding her dry. "Leave," Elena said, her voice heavy with exhaustion. "I never want to see you again." Raven's expression hardened. "You are mine, Elena. In this life and the next, you belong to

me."

"With me, the world is ours. Do whatever you desire-this world will be your paradise." The God of Light and the Lord of Stars, who had once sealed him, were long gone. Raven was now the undisputed apex of power.

"What good is an entire world?" Elena retorted bitterly.

"I will never be with you-never again."

Her resolute rejection had no effect on Raven. Instead, he smirked and shifted his gaze toward

Elsa.

"I won't harm you, Elena. But your daughter... she would make a fine death wraith servant."

Hearing this, Elena's mind was flooded with images of her family members being slaughtered, their souls ripped out and turned into Raven's wraiths.

Without hesitation, she drew a dagger from her waist and pressed it against Raven's chest.

"If you dare touch her, I will kill you!"

Raven's laughter rang out, mocking and cold.

In that moment, Elena's resolve solidified.

With a swift motion, she gripped the dagger tightly and drove it into her own chest.