Chapter 31: Summoning (3)

Chapter 31: Summoning (3)

A hush fell over the Hall of Wisdom, so quiet that even the faintest whisper of dust settling was audible. The crowd was still as statues.

'Did he plan this all along?'

Zion found himself under the Emperor's gaze.

The situation was getting intriguing.

In truth, looking back, this was the only way Urdios could have lent a hand. By naming him heir in this manner, qualifications or power aside, Zion would be legally closer to the throne than anyone else. It would also help him gain control over the 'Eternal Shadows', the empire's eyes that only the Emperor could command.

'But will the other princes and princesses accept this?'

There would undoubtedly be massive resistance.

The Emperor was surely aware of that.

Yet, by openly declaring Zion as the successor, he was inviting him to rise against the challenge.

Indeed, this was assistance, but also a test.

Could he prove himself truly worthy of being the Emperor? Could he protect the empire teetering on the brink due to the demons' invasion?

"Father! What do you mean by this!"

Just as Zion had anticipated, Enoch, the third prince, cried out to Urdios, his face a picture of disbelief.

In his shock, he referred to Urdios as 'Father' instead of 'His Majesty the Emperor'.

"Do you mean to say, you are naming that... that boy as your successor?"

A formal designation as heir by the Emperor didn't ensure one would ascend the throne.

Even Urdios hadn't been designated as an heir but had seized the throne after eliminating his siblings.

However, it was undeniably beneficial.

It could earn him some respect from the legitimate Emperor faction, the diehard loyalists of the Emperor.

"That's right."

Urdios's response was firm, his gaze steady on Enoch as if he were driving home a point.

"That's ridiculous! Are you aware, Your Majesty? Of Zion's status within the Imperial Palace! His treatment! Weren't you the one who banished Zion to the Shadow Palace in the first place!"

Before Enoch could protest further, Diana, who had kept her cool until Zion decapitated the magician, cried out at Urdios.

She wondered if her father, the man standing before her, had lost his sanity.

There was no other plausible reason for designating Zion as the successor.

Utekan felt the same.

“I have always obeyed my father's words until now, but this time I can't understand!"

And it was understandable.

Everyone would agree, each and every one.

If you asked anyone at random, they'd never consider the idea of a disgraced prince being named successor.

Even if it was one of their other brothers or sisters, they could be upset, but they would ultimately accept it.

But the notion that Zion could be the one was entirely impossible to swallow.

"Why did you choose Zion?"

Evelyn, unlike the other three and still retaining her composure, asked the Emperor in a steady voice.

"Because I've deemed him the most fitting to be the next emperor among you all."

"What...!"

As Urdios uttered even more preposterous words, the royal family's expressions grew increasingly twisted.

"I can't accept this. I mean... I will never accept this!"

Enoch, the third prince, now openly vented his fury at the Emperor.

But Urdios, quietly observing Enoch's outrage, remained calm.

Once a word is said, it's never taken back.

This principle had been Urdios's rule until now and would continue to be so.

And this was something the royal family, who had long observed him, knew best.

Moreover, the designation of a successor was exclusively the Emperor's privilege.

Their acceptance or rejection didn't alter anything.

Did they understand this?

'Father's decision is made. It's irreversible. So, what I need to do here is...'

Diana, regaining her composure, thought swiftly.

"I understand. I will respect His Majesty's will."

"Diana! What are you...!"

"But."

Interrupting Enoch's surprised outburst, Diana continued.

"I have a suggestion."

"Let's hear it."

Upon the Emperor's response, the fifth princess turned her serpent-like gaze towards Zion.

"Everyone here is aware of the names Zion is known by."

The conclusion he arrived at was that utilizing the Extinction Sword in its present state for actual combat was challenging.

'More precisely, it's tough to recreate the missing half of the sword's blade.'

For Eclaxia to be used in battle, he needed the other half of the vanished sword blade.

Fortunately, he could temporarily forge that blade using his own Dark Star Energy.

The issue was that the total amount of Dark Star Energy required was immense, surpassing his capabilities.

'Currently, I can only sustain the blade for a few minutes.'

Perhaps it could serve as a surprise maneuver in a critical moment.

To enhance this, he either needed to elevate the level of his Dark Star Energy, or locate the other half of the sword blade.

'Fortunately, I can still fully utilize the other effects.'

Among them, the effects Zion found most useful were the storage and amplification of Dark Star Energy.

With these two effects, he could increase the effectiveness of Dark Star Energy much more rapidly and efficiently.

'At this pace, attaining the third level won't be too far off.'

What Zion lacked was purely the physical aspect and the absolute quantity of Dark Star Energy.

Having already glimpsed the end once, there was no mental barrier standing in his way.

'Could I at least use the Lunar Eclipse, if not the Solar Eclipse, with Eclaxia?'

Zion pondered as he examined Eclaxia in his hand.

Lunar Eclipse.

A technique that intensifies the flow of Dark Star Energy in the body, almost like an explosive surge, enabling the user to harness several times their power.

It was a game-changing technique that could instantly flip the odds in the most dire situations.

However, given its brief duration and the immense strain it placed on the body after usage, it was a technique he didn't employ often in his previous life.

Yet, for the Zion of now, it was a crucial technique.

Initially, it was an advanced technique that could hardly be replicated even upon reaching the third level of Dark Star Energy. However, with the aid of Eclaxia, it might be possible, albeit imperfectly.

'Let's see...'

Whoosh!

Deciding to experiment, Zion channeled Dark Star Energy into the Extinction Sword, generating the remaining half of the blade.

So, the completed Eclaxia began to absorb all nearby light, deepening its darkness.

Simultaneously, the blood vessels across Zion's body began to intensify the Dark Star Energy flowing within, pulsating like a mighty heart.

Thump, thump, thump!

His heart pounded as if on the brink of explosion, and the darkness trembled uncontrollably.

Finally, when his heart's pounding and the darkness's quaking reached their zenith...

Tick.

Everything paused for a moment, as if time had frozen.

And then.

Creak-

An odd sound resonated from deep within Zion's body.

It echoed like the creak of a heavily rusted door swinging open.

With that.

---------------!

The enveloping darkness sank heavily for a moment.

Immediately afterward, just as the darkness was on the verge of materializing.

"That's enough."

Zion dispelled the blade of Eclaxia he had conjured.

He sensed that any further effort might genuinely tax his body.

'All I need to know is that I can utilize the Lunar Eclipse.'

Even though he had stopped it immediately after activation, he could already sense a stiffness creeping into various parts of his body.

Had he kept it active until the end, he likely wouldn't have been able to move freely for a while.

'This seems to be ample preparation.'

With that thought, Zion, who had returned Eclaxia to its state of darkness, gradually exited the underground training arena.

His eyes shone with a chilling light, as if it was time.

Now it was his turn to confront the gaze of the Empire.

***

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