Chapter 110: The Declaration of War – Part 3 (Last)
“At last, my ambition to conquer the world can begin…”
Velix smiled faintly, his calm, indifferent eyes concealing a chilling, malevolent gleam.
In truth, the upcoming great war with the Demon Race signified his first step toward world dominance.
Although Velix was well aware of the daunting challenge posed by the ongoing 7,000-year war between the human race and the demon race, he remained steadfast in his confidence that he would emerge victorious this time.
His triumph would elevate him to the esteemed position of the most respected Emperor in the storied history of the Holy Empire of Elysium!
Certainly, the enigmatic figure of the Demon Emperor in this era unquestionably stood as the most potent threat to him.
Yet, with Leon Kruger, his primary impediment to ambition, now deceased, Velix could direct all his vigilance towards countering the influence of the Demon Emperor.
That way, everything would unfold according to his meticulously crafted plan.
After taking a few breaths to calm himself, Velix redirected his gaze to the troops below.
Gripping the magic staff tightly in his right hand, he tapped it lightly against the altar floor.
*Tap!*
The bottom end of the magic staff emitted a faint sound upon touching the floor, and shortly afterward…
*Whoosh!*
An enormous mirror materialized behind the altar, stunning the entire assembly of troops and capital residents.
“What’s that!? It’s massive!”
“It’s the magic mirror of the Imperial Palace!”
“A magic mirror!? How extraordinary! Hasn’t it been centuries since one was last seen in use?”
A collective gasp of wonder and excitement rippled through the crowded streets of the Imperial Capital as an enormous mirror materialized behind the altar.
The magic mirror, an ancient artifact rumored to have existed since the founding of the Holy Empire of Elysium 7,000 years ago, was renowned for its mystical powers.
Its sheer size ensured that every inhabitant of the capital, no matter their location, could behold its magnificence.
*Buzz!*
Without warning, the enormous magic mirror shimmered, and within moments, the figure of Velix emerged.
Clad in white imperial robes adorned with intricate golden patterns, he exuded a regal aura that commanded attention.
For those unable to see Velix directly at the altar, the magic mirror provided a clear view of his presence.
His indifferent yet majestic demeanor struck awe in the hearts of many who had seldom, if ever, beheld the figure of the Holy Emperor of the Holy Empire of Elysium.
Their faces betrayed a mixture of reverence and trembling admiration.
“Hail, Your Majesty, Holy Emperor!”
Immediately, several individuals bowed with profound honor, a gesture swiftly mirrored by the entire populace of the capital.
“Hail, Your Majesty, the Holy Emperor!”
The thunderous roar of greetings emanating from millions throughout the capital, both from the assembled troops within the Imperial Palace Square and from the people beyond its confines, created a cacophony that sent shivers down the spine of any witness.
Upon the altar of the imperial palace square, Velix beheld 600,000 troops and millions of people bowing and paying homage to him, prompting a slight smile to grace his lips.
“Everyone, raise your heads,” Velix said calmly and nonchalantly, yet his voice resounded throughout the capital, sending tremors through the hearts of all who heard it, as if it were the utterance of a supreme being.
Simultaneously raising their heads, they fixed their gaze upon Velix in the magic mirror, their eyes brimming with respect and adoration.
“Each and every one of you, whether standing in this square, outside its bounds, or scattered throughout the capital, must surely have heard the news of the passing of our esteemed sword hero, Leon Kruger, correct?” Velix inquired with a nonchalant tone, his eyes scanning the hundreds of thousands of troops and millions of people assembled outside the square.
“We are all aware, Holy Emperor!”
“It was those accursed demons’ doing!”
“Those vile, cursed demons are to blame for everything!”
The voices of millions, expressing varied sentiments yet united in purpose, reverberated throughout the capital.
Their faces twisted with unmistakable hatred and anger, gradually permeating the atmosphere of the entire capital with tension.
Surveying the anger and hatred etched on the faces before him, Velix nodded with satisfaction before continuing, “Ten days ago, amidst the Desert of Chaos, a fierce battle erupted between our Empire and the Demon race. The conflict erupted from a sudden, treacherous assault by the Demons, aimed at conquering and annihilating a border town near the edge of the desert.
“Thankfully, news of the attack swiftly reached the palace, prompting the immediate dispatch of sword hero Leon Kruger and thousands of holy troops to counter the demon’s surprise assault.”
Velix paused, his formerly cold and indifferent countenance now consumed by overwhelming anger.
“However, I never anticipated that this assault was a trap laid by those accursed Demons to slay the sword hero Leon Kruger,” Velix gritted through clenched teeth, his left hand tightly clenched as if still unable to accept the reality of the incident.
Every word uttered by Velix, laden with emotion, ignited a shared fury among all who heard him, as if his rage permeated their very souls.
An expression of anger, hatred, and sorrow clouded the faces of every individual in the Imperial Capital and among the troops assembled in the Imperial Palace Square.
Leon’s death dealt a devastating blow to them, signaling not only a loss but also the onset of humanity’s decline.
The fall of a hero before the killing of the Demon Emperor would spell catastrophic trouble for humanity.
After all, to vanquish the Demon Emperor, it requires the combined efforts of three heroes wielding three holy weapons.
If one hero perishes, does that not imply the impossibility of achieving this formidable task?
Furthermore, Leon’s popularity and widespread adoration among the populace intensified the impact of his loss.
Observing the shifting emotions among the people, Velix drew a small breath, as if attempting to quell the flames of his anger.
“The death of Hero Leon Kruger was not solely due to the Demons’ trap but also the machinations of their master—the Demon Emperor,” Velix declared with a tone dripping with hatred, a slight tremor underscoring his words.
At the mention of the “Demon Emperor,” the already heightened tension among the crowd instantly surged to its peak!
“Demon Emperor! So, the demise of sword hero Leon Kruger was indeed orchestrated by the Demon Emperor!?”
“Damn! I thought it was mere hearsay, but it appears the news was accurate.”
“Even the mighty sword hero Leon Kruger fell victim to the power of the Demon Emperor!? Just how formidable is the Demon Emperor in this era?”
Velix’s revelation sent the troops and populace into uproar.
Voices filled with astonishment, disbelief, and a myriad of other emotions reverberated throughout every corner of the capital.
Though not entirely unfamiliar with Velix’s statement, many had dismissed the notion of the Demon Emperor being responsible for Leon’s death as mere rumor.
After all, the palace’s method of disseminating news often depended on the transmission of rumors from one individual to another.
So, while the news of Leon’s death was indeed true, it is often embellished, leading to skepticism among the people.
However, Velix’s statement instantly validated everything, plunging those initially skeptical into inevitable horror.
Observing their faces contorted with shock, fear, and a myriad of other emotions, Velix, standing on the altar, maintained an indifferent expression.
Their surprise stemmed from the fact that the news of the Demon Emperor killing Leon had been regarded as a mere rumor by them.
Undoubtedly, all of this had been orchestrated meticulously by him and Jim, intended for use at a critical moment like this.
As Guren ascended to the throne as the new sword hero of this era, the people’s resistance would likely wane in the face of the overwhelming presence and threat posed by the Demon Emperor.
It is safe to conclude that everything lies within his reach, and none can evade his grasp!
Raising his left hand slightly, Velix spoke in a soothing tone, “I understand this may come as a surprise, but there’s no need to worry.”
Upon hearing Velix’s words, the tense expressions of everyone—whether they were the troops in the palace square, the people beyond its bounds, or the entire population residing in the capital—gradually began to ease.
However, traces of fear and worry still lingered on their faces.
Velix lowered his hand and drew a deep breath.
“The matter concerning the Demon Emperor is indeed troublesome and represents a significant threat to all of humanity,” Velix remarked nonchalantly and calmly.
“However, that does not mean we, as the human race, will cower in fear,” Velix continued in a stern and authoritative tone, causing those who heard him to reel before slowly regaining a sense of confidence.
“The Holy Empire of Elysium, standing strong for 7,000 years and steadfastly battling the Demon Race throughout, harbors no fear!” Velix’s proclamation echoed with resounding majesty, eliciting an immediate cheer from the entire crowd.
“Indeed! For seven millennia, our empire has never once cowered in the face of the demon race!”
“Hahaha! His Majesty speaks the truth! We mustn’t forget our unwavering resolve!”
“We reign supreme! We are unparalleled in greatness!”
The excited exclamations of the entire crowd swiftly transformed the once-gloomy atmosphere into one of positivity.
Without a doubt, Velix’s words effectively instilled confidence in everyone.
With a swift motion of his hand, Velix commanded the crowd to cease their cheering in unison.
“The death of sword hero Leon Kruger is a calamity for us, mankind, and the appearance of the Demon Emperor in this era poses a very real threat…” Velix said calmly, pausing for a moment.
Then, with a cold and indifferent gaze, he resumed, “Therefore, I, Velix Larrison, the 70th Holy Emperor of the Holy Empire of Elysium, hereby declare war officially against the Demon race…”
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