Chapter 4 - The Ten imposing ...Father-in-laws!?

Leo found himself seated in a grand hall adorned with intricate engravings of ancient beasts, surrounded by an aura of mystery. Before him sat ten men on imposing thrones, their gazes fixed upon him. The air was thick with anticipation as Leo tried to comprehend the sudden twist in his reality.

As he gathered his thoughts, one of the ten men spoke, their voice resonating through the hall, "Looks like the senior found himself a successor before passing away." Leo's mind buzzed with confusion. Senior? Successor? The words hung in the air, unanswered questions swirling around him.

Leo, still wrestling with the enigma that unfolded in the grand hall, gathered his wits to address the mysterious figures before him. "Senior? Successor? What do you mean?" he ventured, his voice carrying a mix of intrigue and uncertainty.

The ten men, shrouded in an aura of ancient authority, exchanged knowing glances. One leaned forward, his gaze piercing through Leo's core. "Leo, you've been chosen to inherit a great responsibility. The senior, who came before you, has passed on his mantle to you."

The weight of those words hung in the air, and Leo couldn't help but repeat, "Mantle?" The term resonated with an unspoken significance, as if the very fabric of the hall held secrets waiting to be unraveled.

Before Leo could delve further into the mysterious nature of his role, a commanding voice disrupted the silence. "What is your name, son?" The question, seemingly simple, reverberated with authority. Leo, compelled to answer, stammered out his name. The hall fell into a brief hush, emphasizing the gravity of that single inquiry.

Summoning his courage, Leo sought clarity. "Why am I here?" The question sliced through the stillness, but instead of an answer, it triggered laughter from the ten imposing figures. Their mirth, though innocent to them, sent disconcerting ripples through Leo, as if the force of their amusement threatened to overwhelm him.

After an extended silence, the figures composed themselves, introducing titles that carried the weight of their respective realms. The King of Hell, Dragon Emperor, Phoenix Emperor, King of Vampires, King of Undead, King of Time, King of Space, King of Alchemy, King of Blacksmith, and King of Sorcery stood before Leo. Each was a sovereign ruler in their own realm.

Leo's mind whirred with disbelief as the ten beings disclosed the intricate connection between him and the senior, their master. According to their revelation, Leo was destined to marry one of their daughters, and this union was sealed by the very golden scroll resting beside him.

Amidst the tumult of this revelation, one of the figures broke the tension with a playful remark. "Well… we can be considered as your fathers-in-law," he declared, setting off another round of laughter among the kings. Leo, still grappling with the surreal nature of his predicament, felt a cocktail of emotions – confusion, amusement, and a growing sense of responsibility for the realms now entwined with his fate.

As the laughter subsided, the figures transitioned into a more serious demeanor. Each ruler began to elaborate on their dominion, offering Leo insights into their realms. The King of Hell spoke of infernal landscapes, the Dragon Emperor of vast draconic territories, the Phoenix Emperor of celestial domains, and so forth. Leo, absorbing this torrent of information, found himself standing on the precipice of a multidimensional tapestry woven with threads of magic and majesty.

Before he could fully process the magnitude of his situation, the figures collectively spoke. "Leo, our senior, your master, foresaw a destiny for you among us. The golden scroll signifies the pact that binds your fate with our."

Leo saw his system's warning to not provoke the powerful entities in around him.

"Master, it will be an instant death. Don't provoke them in any way."

"Master, it will be an instant death. Don't provoke the-...."

"Master, it will be an instant death. Don't provoke the-...."

"Master, it will be an instant death. Don't provoke the-...."

After absorbing the cryptic warnings from his system, Leo chose the path of silent contemplation. In the quietude that ensued, he became aware of the warmth emanating from the bowl he unconsciously held. As Leo shifted his gaze to the still-warm stew, an unseen enchantment began to unfold.

The ten imposing figures, shrouded in an air of mystique, immediately sensed a transformation in the atmosphere. From their vantage point, the aromatic tendrils wafting from the dishes underwent a mesmerizing metamorphosis. What once were mere scents now materialized into majestic dragons, their ethereal coils swirling in an intricate dance. Floating vegetables, in the eyes of the ten kings, took on a reverential aura, offering an unseen tribute to Leo.

As the ten figures locked their eyes onto the culinary spectacle, the invisible dragons coiled around the dishes fixed their gaze upon the rulers. Fearlessly, the draconic apparitions glared at the kings, emanating an unseen pressure that gripped the hall, making it increasingly difficult for the rulers to draw breath.

To Leo, however, this spectacle remained concealed. The majestic dragons, guardians of flavor and scent, were invisible to his eyes. Unaware of the mystical drama playing out around him, Leo maintained an outward semblance of normalcy, as if untouched by the ethereal display.

The clash between the mystical and the mundane unfolded silently, leaving Leo in the center of this culinary enchantment. The ten kings, initially imposing, found themselves entranced by a force beyond their comprehension. The pressure intensified, an unspoken warning from the invisible guardians, as Leo stood unknowingly at the center of an extraordinary phenomenon.