The Prison King Returns

Elder Chad Bozeman

That was it. The final spark.

Chad slammed his palm onto the obsidian table.

BOOM!

The massive slab cracked instantly, fractures racing like lightning across the polished surface before the entire table shattered into pieces. A violent purple aura erupted around him, swirling like a storm as the temperature in the chamber suddenly dropped. Even the air seemed to distort beneath the pressure.

Several weaker attendants near the walls staggered backward, gasping for breath.

Zia’s heart pounded.

She was only at the Sovereign level. If a Dragon Lord like Chad fully unleashed his strength, she wouldn’t last a second trying to intervene. Almost no one in the chamber could stop him if he truly lost control.

Except the other elders.

Otherwise… Elias might actually die here.

“That’s it!” Chad roared, stepping forward. “You’re going to die today!”

He clenched his fist. The purple aura surrounding his body rapidly condensed around his arm, gathering into a dense vortex of destructive energy.

This wasn’t a warning.

It was lethal intent.

Yet Elias was smiling.

That expression only enraged Chad further.

Just as he was about to move, Zia’s voice suddenly cut through the chaos.

“STOP!”

The chamber seemed to shake as every eye turned toward her.

Chad glared at her.

“Who do you think you are to stop me?”

Zia steadied her breathing. She knew she couldn’t overpower him, but she didn’t need to. There was another way.

“The Code of Azure,” she said clearly, projecting her voice across the chamber, “states that when two members have a dispute involving honor or authority, the matter must be resolved through a sanctioned duel.”

Her eyes briefly flicked toward Elias.

This was the only option.

If Chad attacked now, it would be an execution. A sanctioned duel, however, required preparation, formal witnesses, and rules. Maybe Chad would calm down by then.

Or at least he wouldn’t be able to kill Elias without consequence.

Chad hesitated. He wanted blood now.

“She’s right.”

Another elder finally spoke.

George Hale sat calmly among the council, his white hair contrasting with his composed expression and sharp eyes.

“Challenge the boy properly, Chad. Let the duel decide.”

Several elders nodded subtly. Not because they sympathized with Elias, but because Azure had rules, and allowing one elder to openly murder the organization's chosen heir would destroy the order they had spent years protecting.

Chad exhaled harshly. His purple aura flickered before gradually disappearing.

The shattered pieces of the obsidian table settled across the floor.

“Fine,” Chad growled.

His eyes remained fixed on Elias.

“Tomorrow morning. Ten o’clock.”

His voice was cold.

“Be prepared.”

A cruel smile stretched across his face.

“I’ll crush you into ribbons.”

Elias chuckled softly.

“You really do have a death wish.”

The chamber stiffened again.

Chad’s fists tightened, but he forced himself to remain still.

Zia immediately stepped forward.

“We shall be leaving,” she announced firmly.

Before Chad could provoke another confrontation, she moved beside Elias and subtly urged him toward the exit.

The massive doors closed behind them.

Only after they had traveled well down the corridor did Zia finally release the breath she had been holding.

She led Elias into a private suite within the inner residential wing. The doors opened to reveal a massive room with polished marble floors, a panoramic glass wall overlooking the dark ocean, a king-sized bed, a study area, and minimalist luxury throughout.

“This will be your temporary quarters,” she said.

The door sealed behind them.

Zia turned toward him, and for the first time, some of her composure slipped.

“Young Master… you didn’t have to enrage Elder Chad.”

Her tone remained respectful, but there was urgency behind it.

“Although you are the heir, your coronation is in three days. Until then, by Azure law, you are not officially the King of Azure.”

She continued carefully.

“Your title cannot protect you from internal challenges. Especially not from someone like Chad.”

She met his gaze.

“You must show restraint. At least for now.”

Elias walked calmly toward the glass wall and looked out at the dark ocean.

“Why should I show respect to those who disrespect me?”

He turned slightly.

“Especially when they are significantly weaker than me.”

Zia froze.

Her mind stalled for a moment.

“Weaker?” she repeated carefully.

“I’m afraid you misunderstand the situation.”

Her voice became serious again.

“Every single one of the elders is at Dragon Lord level. Peak Dragon Lord, in some cases.”

She hesitated before adding, “The only person who ever stood above them was Master Zucker.”

Elias didn’t look impressed.

“Who cares if they’re Dragon Lords?”

He turned fully toward her, his expression calm.

“Even if they were at the Celestial Realm…”

He shrugged slightly.

“No one can beat me.”

The words lingered in the room.

Celestial Realm.

Zia’s heart skipped.

He had spoken the term naturally, without hesitation or confusion. He knew the cultivation hierarchy.

Which meant he understood exactly what he was implying.

If Elias knew the hierarchy…

Why was he so confident challenging a peak Dragon Lord?

Unless—

Zia’s breathing grew faintly uneven.

Could he be…

At the Celestial Realm?