The heaven shook, the roar of thunder giving way to a sinister laughter that echoed across the world.
Lightning slashing the skies in jagged streaks of silver.
Winds howled wildly like crying.
Clouds churning like a boiling cauldron, thunder raged as as if voicing blatant rejection.
The heaven were angry.
No, it was too much for anger—wrath.
Far below the clouds, under the pouring rains, the peoples are shaken in confusion and teror. Those who magical had it better, but mortal and ordinary?
What could they do under heaven's wrath but to pray?
Yet, even the heaven's wrath did nothing but lluminating a figure that danced amidst the chaos on the raging storm clouds—all black, featureless human figure, lean and chaotic as if darkness and horror had concentrated into this single being.
His form distorted the lights around.
He had no eyes, no discernible face save for the jagged, grotesque smile that stretched unnaturally wide across his almost smooth, dark head. From that gaping maw, a long, glistening tongue lashed about wildly, tasting the air like a serpent.
Thunder crackling around him in a chaotic symphony.
The horror of his form stood contrasted the brilliance of the storm that going against him.
The heaven itself attacked him, but it was simply useless. The heaven was like a child throwing tantrum, only to get ignored by the being of darkness.
"Ryahahahaha, so this is the future?"
His laughter shake the heavens, wild and untamed, it seemed to tear at the fabric of reality itself.
He stretched his arms wide as he spun, the clouds beneath his feet swirling and warping in response. "No more promise to keep, no more chains! This old me is back, dear world! Do you feel me? I'm so back!"
He sighed, a voice of strange blend of guttural growls and shrill mirth. He stretched his arms wide, dancing slowly on the boiling clouds, each movement looked as if bending the world itself around him.
"The freedom now! Hmm, what should I do? What should I do next, eh?"
His jagged grin twisted further as he began to twirl.
His movements dramatic yet elegant.
"Free at last… haa, they really know how to make me tortured myself." He cackled, his laughter louder than thunder, raw and unrestrained.
He, the Devil Prime, is so happy right now.
And who can blame him?
For even he himself don't know how long, he had been a sentinel for the thing entrusted him by his friends.
But that burden was gone now.
He had fulfilled his promise, delivering the legacy to their chosen inheritors. As for what happens next, the Devil Prime simply didn't care. He had said it clearly, he was just a deliveryman, not the seller nor owner.
Devil Prime stopped dancing abruptly.
"How long it has been? I'm sure these crawling ants has made me a myth! Ahh, I can't wait to see their face when they see I'm not some old myth anymore. I'm real, and I'm here NOW!"
He leaned forward although addressing the world itself. "Oh, I see how you're looking at me, out there in your cozy little realms. You're saying, 'Who is this monster? What does he want?' HEY, C'MON! I'm your beloved Demon God, Aku Ma-Jin!"
The heaven shook, clouds churning, wind rumbled, and lightning raged incessantly.
"Alright, alright!" he casually slapped thousands thunder that attacked him with emotional laughter, "You're happy, I'm happy, we both happy!"
Then his grin sharpened, "Let's start by introducing myself to the world again. And it means one thing: I'll make a new friend!"
With a laugh that cut through the storm like a blade, he launched himself from the clouds.
Devil Prime's chaotic form streaking downward like a comet of darkness. His maniac laughter trailed behind him as he tore through the skies.
…
The sun and moon rotated in perfect circle, and at the very center of their path hovered a magnificent golden structure like a celestial fortress.
It was a kingdom of divine artistry, a small city suspended in the sky where power and perfection intertwined. Golden tower and massive spires pierced the clouds, their finest carved surfaces reflecting the perpetual sun and moon light that bathed the world, all while cascading waterfalls of light flowed from their edges, turning the clouds around golden.
The Heavenly Court.
Having stood for three million years since the beginning of human's history, it was both fortress and imperial palace, a place where order was absolute and power reigned supreme.
Using different words, it was a realm of splendor.
The sprawling citadel, suspended by forces unseen, casting shimmering reflections of the moon and sun's light upon the mists below.
Polished streets glimmered in the sunlight, reflecting the radiant towers above, exuding serenity. Temples dedicated to the Four Divine God rose high, their statues glowering over all who entered.
At the very heart of the Court, stood a massive tower tallest of them all. The structure exuding an aura of authority that was impossible to ignore.
It was the tower of the Council of Golden Order.
And one of the many room inside, is a magnificent court—Seventy two carefully carved wooden seats arranged in half circle in descending order. The walls are white clean while the floor clean black, so clean in fact as if telling everyone inside that order must be used properly and corruption should be killed.
That clean symbolic was supported by the wooden seats, although carefully carved, they're just wood. But at the very front, facing seventy two chair, stood a tall, almost massive golden throne. In fact, the room's source of illumination was this throne.
"Tomorrow, it'll be a full one year since we heard nothing from Marshall or his," said a man black robed old man with dark, silver-streaked hair and piercing green eyes. His voice was calm, but the underlying edge of frustration was unmistakable.
And he was seated on one of the two obsidian chair beside the golden throne.
"We have sent another team for investigation again and again, but the result is the same." someone stand up from one of the seventy two chair, "I'm afraid they really took it for themselves."
"I don't care. Just found them." the man with green eyes, JaSaad, spoke coldly.
"Understood, grand Priest." replied the blue haired young man who stood up, one of the top three Eltsopa, Rykard the Blade Sovereign.
"I have read the report," some another figure on obsidian chair, "I believe external forces must have do this. After all, I know that kid Marshall and his friends, they won't do something like this."
A woman, so beautiful; small face, green eyes, small red lips like cherry—but it was only her face.
The rest?
Her body was practically dried plant beneath gown.
It was a creepy sight.
"We.. can't be sure.." Miquella, the Sovereign of Rot, spoke up, "After all, we can't really rule out the possibility of their betrayal."
Almost one year.
It's been three hundred and sixty four day since the court secretly assigned a mission to one of the top 300 Eltsopa and his team. Yet, until today, there's not even a report from them.
So obviously the Council are getting restless.
After all, what that team are supposed to excavated was anything but something ordinary.
Or at least, that's what they believed.
"I know we should sent one of you Sovereign instead of lowly rat." JaSaad snorted.
The dried woman, Marika spoke, "You said that again. But you of all people know we can't do that right?"
"Hmph." JaSaad eyes glinted coldly, "That damned self-proclaimed emperor!"
Human society, for all its grandeur and supremacy today, was built on a single foundation. In the world where other races born with natural magical ability, super strength, beastly physique, etc. humans are but the lowest and weakest being. The hierarchy that governed this world demanded constant competition, innovation, and, above all, strength.
The races who failed to out best others risked being overtaken, enslaved, or even eliminated.
And it was not just some bullshit.
The history recorded it all—once, there was 41 races of sentient being in this world. But overtime, even the symbol of absolute invincibility like Dragon and Titan races were not spared and got eliminated.
For three millions years, humans had gained solid footing among other races through the existence of Eltsopa, and they formed intricate peace.
After all, wars after wars has exhausted everyone.
Thus the peaceful time.
But with the fangs and claws are hidden, it doesn't mean that conflict was over.
On the surface every race lives in harmony, but the old foxes refused to stay quiet, thus the scheme, agenda, deceiving, new laws—it was a cold war.
Of course, no one will go overboard and obviously, they must had a good reason for everything they did. After all, one can take a land legally and it'll be fine even if anyone else unhappy, but take it through force, and there'll be bloodshed.
For over a million years, that's just how things were.
However, everything's changed in less than a thousand years ago.
"The Emperor…"
Hearing that word, everyone in the room glanced at the one who sat on the golden throne in awe, fear, and obvious respectful loyalty.
The Eltsopa, powerful as they were, existed within a rigid and hierarchical society.
From the weakest to strongest, the Eltsopa could be put into three main category; Unranked, Ranked, and Transcendent. Each with their own title; the top three are titled Sovereign while the top 10 are Monarch, etc. and their titles are not just ornament.
Far in the past, Eltsopa are unrestrained, free.
Spreading chaos everywhere, causing humans and other races alike to suffer.
But everything changes there millions years ago.
The Heavenly Court took the position of apex organization and chained all Eltsopa. From then on, their authority stretched across the known world, from the glittering human cities of the east to the desolate wastelands—Eltsopa are bound by the Golden Order to protect and govern humanity, ensuring their supremacy to last forever.
Obviously, the current peace cost humanity a lot.
And humans won't be able to taste the sweet fruit of peace without the transcendent—Emperor. In human society, only transcendent ranked Eltsopa are allowed to bear this mighty title.
The Heavenly Court housed three Emperor, and the one who sat on the golden throne was the fourth.
The Void Emperor.
Regal and composed, even when he just sat in silence, no one could doubt his unshakable authority. He wore wide crimson robe with dragons pattern above all white attire that matched his pure indifferent demeanor. His broad shoulders bore the weight of a thousand battles, his long black hair shimmered while his cold face seemed carved from jade.
Although he seemed to be resting with eyes closed and one hand supporting his head, there was no mistaking to his power—a might that deserved utmost respect.
He is a transcendent.
He is the emperor.
He is the strongest of humanity.
Or that was how it was—over five hundred years ago, a new Emperor appeared mysteriously.
"Let's put that complicated matter aside and focus on this problem shall we?" Marika sighed, "Alright, you all may speak your mind. You are seventy two of the best of humanity after all, I'm sure we can figure things out."
And so, the long discussion began.
JaSaad couldn't help but scoffed unhappily from the side. If it wasn't for that self-proclaimed emperor, would there any need to do this?
No!
They could just go wherever they want.
But things change now.
Throughout history, there has never been two transcendent Eltsopa exist at the same time.
Thus, humans never completely dominated other races. But now, with two emperor on human faction, peace will be hard to be maintained.
Heavenly Court never tolerated conflict among humans, but it's a good thing that the new emperor showed unclear but hostile stance toward them, thus lessened their burden. But the old foxes of other races still eyed them like a snake, and if they make any movement that raised their tail, they'll jump.
That's why, they had this discussion now.
Since the player can't move by themselves, so they used pawns. But the pawns are gone just like that.
"There's no denying the stakes," said Miquella quietly. "We've built our world on power, and without it, we're vulnerable. I agree that we should send the Monarch to the Pixie Forest."
The problem was, will the other races stayed still?
Will the owner of the forest allowed it?
After all, Pixie Forest was not under their power!
It was open secret that the head of every races never stop their research and journey to gain more power. If at time like this, Heavenly Court showed interest in the domain of other forces, what will they think?
This uncertainty led the Council to tread carefully, sending Marshall and his team instead of deploying a larger force, making it like normal adventure.
Even then, only Marshall himself knew the truth.
But what if, someone's paranoid enough?
"Haiyoo…" JaSaad pinched his wrinkled nose bridge, truly frustrated hearing their discussion.
At this moment however, someone asked, "Um, maybe it's a bit late, but, uh, was that cultivation method really worth it? What if it's just the same as what those at the east practiced?"
Everyone quietened down, and Marika answered, "No. It shouldn't be. That's all you should know."
"Find them! I don't care, JUST FIND THEM!" JaSaad kicked the small table before him, causing the drink and snack to splattered around.
"You're too noisy, JaSaad."
It was just a casual, cold voice.
But in that instant, everyone felt their scalp explode. JaSaad was the first to react. He literally jumped to prostrate before the emperor's foot and kissed his boot gently. His body already drenched in cold sweats.
"My.." he screamed his lungs out, "PLEASE FORGIVE MY DISRESPECTFUL BEHAVIOR, YOUR IMPERIAL MAJESTY!"
The others followed suit and kneeled low, as low as their head touched the ground.
And they obviously didn't had it better.
"Just ate your food," he slowly opened his blue as skies eyes, and immediately scowled, "Tch, clean yourself"
"""YOUR MERCY, YOUR IMPERIAL MAJESTY"""
While JaSaad began eating the food he had just thrown like a stray dog, the other quickly cleaned their wet clothes from cold sweat using flame related ability.
And then they just sat there.
JaSaad eating his food like a stray dog while Void Emperor gazing at something far, far away.
However, the direction he look at was exactly where a young girl sat. Thus, it was obvious how she would react. If he wasn't the emperor, she might be blushing by now since the emperor was no less handsome than his brother. But he is the emperor.
Not mentioning anything, how old was he?
He's older than her great great super great ancestor!
"Your order, my Lord?" Marika asked respectfully while glancing apologetically toward the collapsed girl.
The emperor tapped the throne's armrest.
Tap.
Tap.
Every time he tapped it was like he hit directly on their heart, everyone paled immediately, already sweating a bucket. Only the top three and two Priest had it better.
The sixth tap, he spoke up, "Let's postpone this meeting. We have a guest."
His beautiful blue sky eyes glinted dangerously.
Everyone was stunned.
Marika asked doubtfully, "Guest…, my lord..?"
Her answer come in the most dominating way—