Mummy Evolution

If the commoners around knew that a 14 year old was also a TIer 4 Tomb Raider, they would be shocked.

All his life, Sett had been pampered with royal resources, and people who were willing to bring him Tomb Hearts were everywhere.

When Zainah was married to him, for example, her noble father had given him a Tier 4 Tomb Heart to curry favor with him. He had fed that to Zainah herself—and that had given her a loose motion that lasted days.

Until the… Tomb Heart itself came out.

Cough, cough, Sett covered his face in embarrassment at the thought.

Neilara, his mother, already had even S-tier Tomb Hearts prepared for him to become a Tier 5 Tomb Raider. So he didn't need others to give him their Tomb Hearts.

If he didn't have to train like a true warrior and learn to truly control his strength, Sett would have long become a Tier 5 Tomb Raider.

But his mother's standards were high—unless he could fight the best Tier 4 Raiders out there, she wouldn't let him become a Tier 5.

Sett's golden eyes sneaked glances around himself.

But even though I am already this strong, she sends protection.

I wonder how many people around me who look completely normal are guards.

His mother had always seemed paranoid to Sett, but now, he thought he could understand her. It was not paranoia, but caution. Many people must want to kidnap Sett.

Ah, think of the devil and he shall appear.

Settt's eyes were blank as he felt the wind roar past him.

Someone had picked him up and was running at an incredibly fast speed.

"Hello?" Sett spoke, voice cutting through the air.

"Shut up!" the kidnapper said, panicking as they ran even faster.

"Idiot," Sett said. "Do you think my mother didn't leave any life-saving measures for me?"

In the next one second that passed, the kidnapper, a seemingly Tier 5 Tomb Raider, fell into the ground as if a hole had suddenly opened up below him. It was as if he had simply been pulled in.

But Sett knew better.

He looked at a woman, standing on a tree branch, who was carrying him up by the collar. She had appeared out of nowhere and even saved him in mere seconds. How cool, big sister please marry me!

It was his royal cousin!

Shephe Ramses!

Shadow Lady!

Sett's 7th crush.

"Hello?" Sett asked.

The woman stared at him, nodded. "The Empress expected this today and asked me to guard you. There might be more on the way, be careful. That Tomb Raider isn't dead yet, I will come back after interrogating him.

"Just scream if something happens."

She then vanished into Sett's shadow, vanishing from sight.

Sett rubbed his jaw.

Could this be considered as she and he being one?

Will she say that she entered inside me?

Weird.

I should be the one entering inside her.

He then grew serious.

Things were going to get rowdy.

Sett looked down and saw another person in black robes running towards him. Before the person reached close, that man, too, fell into his own shadow.

Wow, sister shadow truly is awesome.

Would she reject me if I ask really nicely?

She had both an Axiom that excelled in sneak attacks and was also a Tomb Raider at the very peak of mortal capacity, of course she was going to destroy these background villains. But as time passed, Sett became more and more solemn.

"It is the smell of blood," he said with an unnerved expression.

The carnival sight was exuding such an intense bloody smell, it was even worse than the time Sett entered the battlefield to gain experience. This was no longer a simple kidnapping attempt, but an outright war!

Where was his mother?

Sett bit his lips.

He could no longer joke around, his face had become utterly pale.

No, I will just distract her and become a burden if I enter the carnival.

His shadow squirmed and a woman crawled out of it.

"That is no longer a carnival," she said.

Red, bloody smoke rose from the place, filled with bitter rage and bloodlust.

It was no longer a normal carnival, but a carnival tinged in blood.

A faint, bloody mask made of red gas floated in the air.

"Shephe, go help my mother," Sett said seriously. "I am stro—"

"Naive and foolish," Sephe said before vanishing into his shadow. "The Empress doesn't need protection. She is the one who protects."

A violent tremor caused the entire world to shake and a giant sword made of pure silver cleaved through the red hue in the air.

A woman in silver floated in the skies, eyes closed, holding a beautiful silver sword in her hand.

The moment she appeared, the entire world fell silent.

It was beauty.

It was strength.

It was the Empress.

It was the Blind Saint that made the world fall dark.

"Sett," she said from the skies, her voice a heavenly decree. "You asked whether a ruler should be loved or feared. That is a very good question, but one you shouldn't ask common wenches."

She heard…

Sett looked at the woman who, for a moment, looked divine.

"The ideal situation for a ruler is to be both feared and loved," she said, calmly raising her sword to face forward. "But it is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both."

A giant phantom sword appeared above the city, and all around the city, millions of sword phantoms floated with unequalled majesty.

Sett, who had at some point jumped on top of the biggest tree to get a better view, saw hundreds of people in black robes in the bloody carnival. They had appeared out of nowhere, but now, a sword had also appeared out of nowhere near their necks.

When the Emperor acted, all things bowed in submission.

Neilara continued. "A ruler that is loved is only effective while that love can lead to personal gain for their subjects. Once the ruler's power weakens, they are quickly abandoned."

Axiom of Damnation—The Million Swords of Damnation.

"If the subjects fear the ruler, that fear guarantees support. They ask themselves: What will he do to us, if we are disloyal?"

Neilara shifted her hand.

Swords fell.

Heads fell.

"That fear and uncertainty keeps the people loyal and obedient, even in difficult times."

Nelaira floated there, golden eyes opened, aflame.

She landed on a war chariot and looked right at Sett's direction.

I see it, do you see it, son?

Sett thought he had fallen in love.

Like what the fuck?

So cool!

Were Emperors this cool?

She should have told him that!

He slowly turned towards the Shadow Lady, who stood beside him.

"Sister Shephe, I am gonna become the Pharaoh. Would you marry me if I did?"