Amidst the chaos of war unfolding in the Desert of Chaos, eight thousand kilometers away, the territory of mankind, or more precisely, the Holy Empire of Elysium, remains completely unaffected and peaceful.
As the sole empire of humanity and one of the two paramount core powers, alongside the Holy Orthodox, the Holy Empire of Elysium thrives in unprecedented prosperity.
Established over 7000 years ago during the era of the first generations of humankind's three heroes, the Holy Empire of Elysium stands as a testament to an exceptionally advanced civilization, embracing cutting-edge technology, a flourishing economy, diverse cultural facets, and a varied society.
From the capital, Astralyn, to the smallest towns in every corner of the empire, every city within the Holy Empire of Elysium thrives, with minimal instances of poverty and crime.
This remarkable stability and prosperity earn the Holy Empire of Elysium the well-deserved title of the most stable and prosperous major power among all races in the world.
...
Holy Palace of the Holy Empire Elysium—Throne Room
"So, how is the situation of the war in the Desert of Chaos? Have there been any results?" On the high throne, a handsome middle-aged man with striking golden hair asked in a calm tone, and there was a strong pressure faintly emanating from his body.
Cloaked in exquisite golden robes and adorned with a regal white crown atop his head, his figure exuded such majesty and authority that anyone who gazed upon him would involuntarily kowtow and bow in reverence.
In his right hand, he wielded a long golden staff adorned with seven colorful crystal stones, hovering above it.
It was evident that this was no ordinary staff but rather a sacred heirloom belonging to the Holy Elysium Empire, passed down for over 7000 years.
On the other hand, the regal figure seated on the throne was none other than Velix Larrison, the present holy emperor of mankind.
Currently, before him stood three figures: two women on either side and a bespectacled man in the center who bowed respectfully, their expressions revealing profound reverence.
Upon hearing Velix's question, the bespectacled man in the center gradually lifted his head, locking eyes directly with Velix on the throne.
"The conditions on the battlefield remain favorable, and our troops are subtly moving towards victory, Your Majesty Emperor," replied the bespectacled man calmly and respectfully, his index finger resting in the center of his glasses.
His name was Jim Terra, and he held the positions of current strategist and prime minister within the Holy Empire of Elysium.
Cloaked in a black, loose robe reminiscent of a man's kimono and adorned with distinctive glasses, his appearance was so unique that he was easily recognizable.
Nevertheless, despite his unique and unassuming appearance, along with his amiable countenance, no one underestimated him—especially not the enemies of the Elysium Holy Empire.
His most infamous nickname, bestowed upon him by the enemies of the Holy Empire of Elysium, was the Four-Eyed Devil.
This nickname is no exaggeration, considering his intelligence surpasses that of an ordinary human, his unpredictable war strategies consistently secure victories for the Holy Empire of Elysium, and his enigmatic demeanor compels everyone to acknowledge that this individual is as fearsome as the Devil.
Upon hearing Jim's explanation, Velix's expression subtly shifted, revealing a faint hint of dissatisfaction on his face.
He promptly shifted his gaze to the beautiful short woman with long black hair, standing expressionless to Jim's left.
"Rain Violet, I would like to ask you for an explanation about this," Velix inquired in a somber tone.
Overhearing this, Rain's expression remained unchanged.
"Please don't worry, Your Majesty. The new poison I've created to eliminate the sword hero on this battlefield will undoubtedly take effect swiftly, and this temporary victory won't endure for long," Rain replied with nonchalance, exuding confidence.
As the strongest mage and most genius alchemist in the Holy Empire of Elysium, Rain was very confident in her abilities.
She had never failed to create or design anything in her life.
Observing the confidence and conviction in her tone, Velix nodded in satisfaction, and his face reverted to its former state.
"Given your confidence, I will eagerly await the results," Velix said calmly, leaning back against the throne.
Suffice it to say, this marked the first instance in his life where he felt anxious, whereas he was typically calm and stable in the face of anything.
However, given the paramount importance of this war to him, he was resolute in ensuring the success of his significant plan—to eliminate the sword hero.
The war unfolding in the Desert of Chaos was a trap he orchestrated to eliminate Leon Kruger, the sword hero whose existence posed a threat to his position as Emperor and needed to be eradicated as soon as possible.
This crazy act will undoubtedly incur the wrath of all parties if discovered, as the very purpose of the heroes' existence is to combat the Demon Emperor, with their appearances occurring only once every 100 years.
The continuous recurrence of this cycle over the past 7000 years is what has enabled the Holy Empire of Elysium and all of humanity to endure and maintain victory against the relentless assaults from the Demon Race.
Therefore, if one of the three heroes, who emerge once every 100 years, were to perish, the potential consequences would be unimaginable.
However, Leon, the sword hero of this era, stood out as an anomaly due to his overwhelming strength, surpassing that of the other two heroes.
Furthermore, his excessively glorious reputation across the Holy Empire of Elysium and Holy Orthodoxy was subtly beginning to impose pressure on Velix as an emperor.
This compelled him to take action, and he formulated a plan to eliminate Leon as quickly as possible in this war.
With the deadly poison given to Leon by Rain, the Empire's most powerful alchemist, unbeknownst to him before he departed for the war, it should have taken effect by now.
They only needed to await news of the army's defeat in the Desert of Chaos, confirming Leon's demise.
Contemplating Leon's downfall, a cold smile inevitably graced Velix's lips.
"Leon... You didn't anticipate this, did you?" Velix laughed inwardly with a cold demeanor.
The long-held hatred he harbored against Leon could finally find its retribution.
Just as they calmly awaited the news, a guard abruptly burst into the throne room, his face pale.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Danger! Danger!" The guard cried out in fear, momentarily forgetting the exalted presence of the Holy Emperor of Mankind before him.
However, the guard quickly realized his fatal mistake and, without hesitation, bowed respectfully toward Velix.
Noticing the fear etched on the guard's face, Velix had already surmised in his heart, yet his outward expression remained indifferent.
"What's wrong? Is there news from the battlefield?" Velix's eyes narrowed, and his powerful aura instilled fear in the guard.
Nevertheless, upon hearing the word 'battlefield,' his face immediately reverted to panic.
"That's right, Your Majesty! There is bad news from the battlefield in the desert of chaos!" The guard's face turned extremely red, conveying the fear he felt at this moment.
"Oh? Bad news? Tell me," Velix furrowed his brow and inquired in a somber tone, heightening the pressure on the guard.
"The bad news... The bad news..." His tone sounded shaky and broken before he managed to continue speaking aloud.
"The bad news is that the holy army on the Desert of Chaos battlefield was utterly annihilated, and the sword hero, Leon Kruger, was declared dead on the battlefield after facing the sudden appearance of the Demon Emperor!"