With the help of the three Generals, a proper structure of order and command was quickly established, utilizing several of the kingdom’s captains and commanders as superiors.
Commander Zain, Raya, Captain Dior, and Ren eagerly volunteered for the role. Drake and Yona were granted titles of nobility due to their connection to the Empress, while Delilah opted to remain simply as their friend.
This structure was only temporary, with nothing set in stone yet. Aengus had also marked some of the higher officials, mostly S-Ranks, with the Shadow Monarch’s power, allowing him to control their lives at will.
For the time being, the Liberation Empire settled just outside the capital city of the Araknis Kingdom.
The ordinary folks of the capital city watched curiously at the new army under a different banner.
The Liberation Empire’s banner was pure green in color, featuring a mighty dragon shape in the middle.
“So, that’s the Liberation Empire they spoke of?” one curious pedestrian commented, behind a broken wall.
“Yeah, I heard our new emperor is a young man with transcendental power. Isn’t it too hard to believe?” another answered, his tone one of disbelief.
“Why don’t we see for ourselves?” another boy asked, curiosity intensifying in his mind.
“Hmph, but there are guards… We won’t even get to see our hero who saved us and promised to bring peace to the world,” a common girl said angrily, sneaking a glance behind the collapsed wall. Her eyes shone with admiration and yearning.
But what happened next fulfilled her and their curiosity completely.
Flash!
A sudden, blinding flash of light appeared in the western sky.
Then from the Liberation army settlement, Aengus emerged, appearing as his usual self, yet radiating a powerful, royal presence that set him apart from the masses.
“Our new heroic Emperor is here!” one of the girls remarked admiringly from her hidden position.
“Ah ha, but who’s the old man with him?” someone asked, scratching their head.
“Ignorant fool, don’t you recognize the true Hero of Light? That’s Elyon, a top brass of the Humanitarian Alliance,” another replied.
“Oh, but why is he here? Is he against the Kingdom’s coup in the Kairos Empire?”
“We’ll have to wait and see, won’t we? Hey, stop pushing… You rascal!”
—
Aengus had just been exploring the Chaos Creator class, which he’d recently gained access to, but then he suddenly sensed Elyon’s aura. It stopped him in the task and made him vigilant.
“Why are you here again, old man?” Aengus asked, looking at Elyon with narrowed eyes.
Elyon, standing atop a magical bird of light, looked at the Banner of the Liberation Empire.
“I cannot believe this!” He seemed too surprised to answer immediately. “Just how is this possible?”
Elyon shifted his attention to the young man he had spared a few days ago. Back then, Aengus had been so weak, but now he looked like the embodiment of true power, a powerhouse surpassing the transcendental.
“What’s your goal, boy—no, young emperor? I hope what I heard isn’t true,” he asked, his tone turning slightly cordial.
Aengus thoroughly observed Elyon and answered calmly,
“You haven’t heard anything wrong, Hero of Light. I just want peace in the world. I am not against humanity, nor the demons. They all will be unified one day.”
“Is there a problem from you?” He asked with narrowed eyes in threatening manner.
Elyon shook his head in disappointment.
“You don’t know what you’re getting into, young Emperor. There’s still so much you don’t understand. They will not end the war between humans and demons. Don’t waste your potential on impossible aspirations. Just join humanity, and let’s eradicate the demons completely… That would be the best option. What do you say?”
Elyon looked hopefully at Aengus, waiting for him to agree with his proposal.
Aengus seemed uninterested but was curious about something.
“Who are they? Are you talking about those ‘Gods’?” he asked in a mocking tone.
“There is no true god in this world, just fake cowards who treat this world as their playground, am I right?”
Elyon narrowed his eyes, finding the audacity of the young Emperor. He seemed too arrogant for his own good.
But he didn’t realize that this wasn’t arrogance; it was confidence to clear any obstacles that came his way.
“You’re right and wrong at the same time. Anyway, it would be a sin to mention their exalted names in this world, especially in front of a sinner like you, who has murdered millions,” Elyon said, his expression holy and devoted.
Aengus was about to answer, but General Leon’s voice drifted into their ears.
“And who is the judge of sins and virtues?”
General Leon appeared, forming an icy platform on his path to the sky.
“Tell me… Are you the ones? the mighty heroes of the gods, who trade the lives of commoners, the weak, like they mean nothing? Don’t remind us of the so-called righteous deeds you once did, Elyon,” he said coldly, glaring at Elyon with unwavering disdain.
Elyon’s holy presence seemed to dim under the weight of Leon’s rage and displeasure in the air.
Elyon scoffed and replied,
“Leon, we told you already, we are from the Cathedral of Gods. We don’t interfere with mundane affairs too much. But he will incur the wrath of the Gods, eventually making us your enemies. I am trying to avoid that as much as possible, but if needed, this will be brutal!”
He threatened, gazing at Aengus with a bone-chilling coldness.
Aengus narrowed his eyes, not liking Elyon’s threat right before his face.
“Rip!”
Using Space Laws, Aengus tore through space and extended his hand, catching Elyon off guard.
As Elyon saw his hand being grabbed by the young Emperor, his heart skipped a beat, and without hesitation, he cut off his own right arm with his sword.
With this, he quickly made his escape from Aengus’s clutches with a light-speed dash.
Elyon glared at the young man, but there was no sign of pain on his old, battle-hardened face. His arm quickly regenerated, using Holy Light elements to heal rapidly.
Aengus remained unfazed, slashing down at Elyon with his God Weapon once again.
“What!”
Elyon was speechless as he was cut down in two, unable to react or dodge in time; it happened that fast.
“It’s a projectile clone, Ethan,” General Leon informed.
“I know…” Aengus replied as he watched Elyon’s body disappear into light particles.
