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

Last night, Leslie had ordered the elf queen to stand guard outside the courtyard.

The doorway wasn't far from Leslie and Owen's bedroom, and the wild commotion of the night had been all too audible to the elf queen.

For someone like her, who had never experienced such things, it was sheer torment.

Initially, she believed herself capable of remaining calm and indifferent.

But Owen and Leslie's unrestrained passion shattered that illusion—the mere sounds of their intimacy made her body feel weak, her legs instinctively pressing together.

The torment lasted the entire night.

When dawn finally broke, and she thought she could breathe a sigh of relief, she found the couple engaged in their affectionate cultivation session, treating her as a mere onlooker to their endless display of love.

Within the courtyard, sensing the elf queen's simmering resentment, Owen teased, "You really had her stand guard outside all night?"

"Since I made her my personal maid, she should naturally do what's required," Leslie replied nonchalantly.

"Besides, you seemed particularly spirited last night," Leslie added, her tone carrying a teasing edge as she looked at Owen with a smirk.

Owen straightened his expression, feigning seriousness. "And whose fault is that? Your allure was simply irresistible."

Though she knew he was deflecting, Leslie didn't call him out. Instead, she remarked lightly, "It might take some getting used to, but I'll adjust soon enough."

Owen realized then that Leslie fully intended to train the elf queen as her personal maid.

Who would've thought she had such a side to her?

Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Owen refocused. "The dark elves are no longer a threat to us. Perhaps it's time we discuss our plans to attack the Sanctuaries."

Leslie nodded. "The dark elves are a significant force within the Sanctuaries. There's much we can learn from her."

With that, Leslie summoned the elf queen with a mere thought.

The elf queen, sensing the summons, instinctively resisted. But her defiance was swiftly crushed by Leslie's overwhelming dominion, leaving her no choice but to reluctantly approach Owen and Leslie.

"What do you want?" she asked coldly, her defiant demeanor evident in her tone.

Leslie didn't tolerate her insolence. A sharp slap landed on the elf queen's face, followed by an icy aura enveloping her.

"Do I need to explain the concept of 'to the victor go the spoils'? You're a prisoner now, so act like one. This is your final warning—defy me again, and you'll learn the true meaning of regret."

Leslie's frosty voice sent shivers down the elf queen's spine.

She knew Leslie was using her as an experiment for this "personal maid" role. If she didn't fully submit, it wouldn't just be her; the entire dark elf race would face annihilation.

As Leslie's words resonated, the elf queen felt the crushing weight of dominion tighten around her soul, like shackles burrowing ever deeper. The oppressive pressure left her no room for rebellion.

Reluctantly, she lowered her head slightly, her defiance tempered.

"Emerald Dreamscape is a unique realm, existing on the border of reality and illusion. It's home to many top-tier mages. From what I know, there are no fewer than nine sky-tier mages among them," the elf queen began.

In the original timeline, Loki, the God of Mischief, valued Ysera highly and had deployed many of his minions and followers to serve her.

Most factions believed Emerald Dreamscape to be guarded by only four sky-tier mages, but that was merely a facade.

Anyone who attacked Emerald Dreamscape without understanding its true strength would suffer devastating losses.

"Nine sky-tier mages?" Leslie murmured, her expression growing solemn.

Though the Azure Kingdom had made significant progress, it had yet to produce a single sky-tier mage.

Sky-tier mages were the pinnacle of power within any faction—exceptionally rare and immensely formidable.

Owen's expression also turned grave.

Within the Azure Kingdom, the only ones capable of contending with sky-tier mages were himself, Leslie, the elf queen, and Madelyn, who had transformed into Death's Calamity.

This disparity in strength made it clear they couldn't hope to overpower Emerald Dreamscape. Any direct assault would end in utter defeat.

"Beyond Emerald Dreamscape's internal strength, we must also account for the opportunistic nature of other Sanctuary factions. If they sense an opening, they won't hesitate to strike us down," Owen said.

Leslie nodded, fully understanding the precariousness of their situation.

The Four Sacred Realms alone were formidable adversaries, and the Forbidden Zone, which had been sealed, now showed signs of awakening, likely due to the Epoch's End.

Their silence was ominous—a predator lying in wait.

Based on the elf queen's insights, Owen's bloodline was extraordinarily unique, bound to draw the attention of top factions.

If they acted rashly, they risked igniting a chain reaction that could spell their doom.

Rubbing his temples, Owen felt the weight of their situation.

The Sanctuaries, the Forbidden Zone, The Celestial—none of them were easy opponents. Every step needed meticulous planning.

Still, retreat was not an option.

He had already accepted a hidden system mission to oppose The Celestial, and even without it, the factions of the Forbidden Zone, the Sanctuaries, and The Celestial would never let him go.

Suddenly, an idea struck him. With a thought, a pitch-black box appeared in his system interface—a reward he had earned for surviving the chaos of the Millennial Cataclysm.

The immortal-tier treasure: Pandora's Box.

Owen had previously tried to open it but found it impossible.

Recently, however, the system had informed him that the Flame Sword could unlock it.

The Flame Sword, the legendary weapon of Surtur, the Flame Giant, had burned an entire plane to ashes during the battle of Ragnarok.

According to the system, the Flame Sword was not only incredibly powerful but also deeply connected to Pandora's Box, both pointing toward the enigmatic The Celestial.

Unlocking the box would undoubtedly grant him significant advantages.

Despite his current strength, he was no match for the ancient powers of the Sanctuaries, the Forbidden Zone, or The Celestial.

Conventional cultivation wouldn't allow him to catch up to their level in time. He needed a dramatic boost, and Pandora's Box presented the perfect opportunity.

To obtain the Flame Sword, however, he first needed to bring back the Goddess of Beauty.

Her immense power and the ancient gods around her could greatly alleviate the pressure on him.

By completing this task, he would gain access to the Flame Sword and the treasures within Pandora's Box, potentially acquiring the strength to challenge The Celestial.

It was a gut feeling—but his system rewards had always been extraordinary.

Anything the system kept shrouded in secrecy would undoubtedly shake the heavens when revealed.

While Owen was deep in thought, Leslie pondered aloud.

"Are you certain Emerald Dreamscape should remain our primary target?"

Given their current strength, a direct confrontation was unfeasible. Letting go of such a powerful goal wasn't out of the question, especially since their plans were only just beginning.

Owen nodded resolutely. "Emerald Dreamscape must be taken."

To bring back the Goddess of Beauty and her companions, they needed the unique light hidden within Emerald Dreamscape.

There was no way around it.

"If you've made up your mind, so be it. But with our current strength, direct combat is out of the question," Leslie said, shaking her head.

She had always supported Owen's decisions but emphasized the need for caution in planning.

"Perhaps infiltration, combined with a coordinated internal and external strike, could work," Leslie suggested.

"Shadow Clan has excelled in intelligence gathering. They can take the lead on this mission."

"Our knowledge of Emerald Dreamscape is too limited. With our inferior strength, accurate and comprehensive intelligence will be key to victory."